She studied Fine Arts, Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and soon after started her studies in Artistic Pottery. Today, Lydia Sebastiany works at Casa Lliure, which goes beyond a simple studio, being a meeting place between artists from several areas. There, besides dedicating herself to pottery's study and practice, Lydia has the opportunity to expand the paths of her own creations.

"I was born in Rio de Janeiro, immersed by the Atlantic Forest, close to Tijuca's Forest. There I had my first and decisive bonding with life's exuberance, which determined my future choices and, somehow, the decision to never grow apart from what I liked the most: the simple appreciation of beauty."

During her first years of life, she lived in a house built in the XIX century, close to the Tijuca's Forest. The first language she learned from her mother was English and the beginning of her development was based on nature observation. Secular trees, mountains and powerful water springs. Feeling and, mainly, understanding the plants, the earth, the water, the sky and the clouds, was inspiring.

At the age of three, she attended the Escolinha de Arte do Brasil (Brazil's Little Art School) encouraged by her mother, a Fayga Ostrower's student. There was when she learned that the art's journey would be natural.

Dancing was part of it. Her body reacted that way. She was introduced to the Russian school classic ballet and to music by her great aunts, as well as classical composers and piano's learning. She studied Fine Arts at UFRJ and Classical Ballet at Tatiana Leskova's school.

"I believe that art can unite and build up peace between nations with different cultures. I hope to always contribute in that sense through my work." (LS)

In 1982, she met Juliana Carneiro da Cunha, beginning the study of theatrical expression, where would be the embryo of Laranjeiras' House of Arts. Soon after, in an unexpected moment, she met Angel Vianna. Angel showed how her journey would be, the comprehension of life through motion and everything that it involves. In 1986, she graduated in Contemporary Dance and Body Awareness, where today is Angel Vianna's college. A few years later, she stared her contact with clay and pottery, with Ana Malboisson, Conceição Santiago, Tito Tortori e Angela Cantarino, all from Rio de Janeiro. And, later on, with Flávia Santoro (Cunha/SP), Miguel Molet (Spain) and Inês Antonini (Minas Gerais).

"They could not understand that the earth keeps and transforms everything. It was enough to be careful, to step quietly and smoothly touch the water. It would have been so easy to understand everything from this perfect cradle." (LS)

In 1990, she moved to Petrópolis, RJ's highland city, where she raised her two sons, Gregory and Thomas, in a beautiful house built by her great-grandfather in the historical center. Her studio was born there. Since the age of 16, without interruptions, she offered classes in drawing, dance, body awareness and pottery.

In 2010, she invited Ivo Ferreira to share her studio and today, in that same environment, they can expand their proposals together, combining gifts and giving the space the name of Casa Lliure. In 2012, with Ivo and other artists, she founded the group Arte Cerâmica em Petrópolis, in a way to combine, add value and spread the complex and instigating art of earth and fire.