Ernesto Neto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1964) is one of Brazil's leading contemporary artists, internationally acclaimed for his immersive sculptures and installations that investigate the relationship between the body, space, nature, and sensory perception. Blending sculpture, architecture, and participatory experience, his work encourages viewers to engage physically with the artwork.

He began his artistic education in the 1980s at the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (EAV/Parque Lage) in Rio de Janeiro, where he studied sculpture with Jaime Sampaio and João Carlos Goldberg. He also attended sculpture and urban intervention courses at the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro (MAM/RJ), expanding his research into materials, spatial relationships, and sculptural form.

Early in his career, Neto drew inspiration from artists such as José Resende and Tunga, exploring the formal and symbolic potential of diverse materials. He later developed a distinctive visual language through the use of stretch fabrics, polyamide mesh, nets, and other flexible everyday materials, creating organic structures that challenge conventional notions of sculpture.

From the mid-1990s onward, he became widely recognized for large-scale installations made from translucent fabric filled with spices, seeds, and other natural elements. These works engage multiple senses through color, texture, aroma, and spatial interaction, while evoking references to the human body and natural forms.

By the late 1990s, Neto introduced his celebrated "Naves" (Ships)—monumental, walk-through environments designed to be experienced from within. Since then, his work has been exhibited extensively at major museums, biennials, and international institutions, establishing him as one of the most influential figures in contemporary art for his innovative fusion of sculpture, environment, and audience participation.