Brazilian culture has been greatly influenced by Portuguese, Indigenous, African, European, and Middle Eastern and Asian settlers. One of its main contributions can be seen in the beautiful and rich arts and crafts markets spread throughout the country.
Historically, handicrafts received little recognition as a form of art in Brazil. However, in recent decades, it has 
gained popularity for celebrating local culture and rescuing traditions. Naturally creative, the Brazilian people value the importance of cultivating a family tradition and an art form passed down from generation to generation.
The role of artisans is gaining more importance in the Brazilian economy. The industry is providing many low-income women with a 
chance to become entrepreneurs and improve their families’ economic conditions.
National Tradition
It is interesting to note that arts and crafts can be found throughout the country and vary from region to region.
Wood Sculpture
In the Brazilian Northeast, many carving and wood sculpture techniques were inherited from African slaves. Portuguese Jesuits also passed on skills in carving and painting religious figures in wood. Originally, they encouraged their Indigenous converts in the techniques, but today others practice the art. Wood carving is widespread in Pernambuco and Bahia, in the Northeast. The technique is also found in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Ceramics
In the Brazilian Northeast, religious figures are also made from clay. They can be found in Tracunhaém, near Recife. Another place where ceramics are even more famous is Alto da Moura, near Caruaru. Both cities are in the state of Pernambuco.
Clay pots are also produced in the Amazon region and come in various styles.
Textiles
Ceará, in the North, is famous for its lace, and beautiful pieces are sold throughout Brazil. In other parts of the North, hammocks and other woven items can be found. The hammock is, of course, a typical household item.
In the southern areas, where European immigration was more intense, many traditional costumes can be seen. Leatherwork, although not restricted to the South, can be found in any region where cattle are raised.
Musical Instruments
The most popular instruments are those linked to African music, especially friction and hand drums like zabumba, cuíca, and reco-reco, and the berimbau (used in capoeira). Again, the best place to look is in the Northeast, where the African heritage is strongest.
Souvenirs
Another Northeastern art form is pictures made in bottles with colored sands. Lençóis, in Bahia, and Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, are good places to buy them.
Baskets
In the Amazon, there is a huge variety of raw materials available for making baskets, hammocks, sleeping nets, baby carriers, masks, and body adornments. In the Northeast, baskets come in all shapes and sizes, especially in Bahia, Pernambuco, and Paraíba.
Handicraft Fairs
Traditional tourist spots, handicraft fairs are a special attraction for those visiting Brazilian cities and wanting to learn a bit about their art and culture.
Torre Fair: A meeting point for many residents of Brasília, with stalls of handicrafts, furniture, jewelry that mixes wood and seeds, light-colored linen or cotton clothing, typical dishes, and the traditional fried pastel with sugarcane juice.
São Cristóvão Fair: The São Cristóvão Fair in Rio de Janeiro is an excellent option for shopping, dining, and entertainment. With nearly 700 stalls, it offers products such as handicrafts, fabrics, and delicious foods, and the best, to the rhythm of Northeastern sounds like forró.
Liberdade Fair: Opened in 1975, the Oriental Fair of Liberdade (as it is also known), in São Paulo, was created to showcase the work of immigrant communities and display a bit more of Japanese culture to passersby. The food section is one of the most visited and offers many Chinese and Japanese dishes, and, of course, Brazilian cuisine.
Caruaru Fair: The city of Caruaru, 123 km from Recife, in 
Pernambuco, is known for one of the largest June festivals in the world, but also for hosting one of the most traditional fairs in the country. Held for over 200 years, it features numerous colorful stalls spread over two kilometers in the city streets, offering a wide variety of popular handicraft products such as hats of all fabrics and sizes, baskets, clay and ceramic objects, among others. One of the attractions that draws 
hundreds of people to the fair is also the gastronomy. The fair offers visitors regional foods such as roasted meats and goat, as well as medicinal herbs, fruits, and vegetables. There are also sections where you can find clothes, shoes, bags, pots, furniture, and, if you’re lucky, you 
might stumble upon performances by pífano bands (a group of percussion and wind instruments) and violists.
Source: Ministry of Tourism, Visitbrasil.com, Footprinttravelguide.com