Ronaldo Lopes de Oliveira is an artist in wire sculpture and painting via a background in philosophy, theatre, and architecture. He studied philosophy at the University of São Paulo and graduated in architecture and urban planning from the University of Braz Cubas. In his early career as an architect in Brazil, he designed and planned remodels of government hospitals and clinics. In 1984, he immigrated to California with his young family. He began coursework in art and architecture at Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design, and at El Camino College working with teacher and sculptor Andy Fagan, and drafted residential homes and business structures for Douglas Leach and Associates in Redondo Beach. Ronaldo eventually founded his own architectural firm, Oliveira Design.