While "Lama Sinfonia" describes her thematic approach, her most famous execution of this concept is the performance piece (Passage):

Tostes is renowned for her profound relationship with clay (referred to in Portuguese as barro or lama ). To her, clay was not just a material but a primordial substance representing birth, the earth, and human connection.

This phrase, often cited in discussions of her work, translates to "Mud, a Symphony of Forms." It encapsulates her philosophy that the raw, malleable state of mud holds an infinite potential for creation and spiritual expression. Key Work: "Passagem" (1979)

Her work, including the "symphony" of forms she created with clay, is frequently documented in Brazilian art history archives and contemporary exhibitions, such as those cataloged on platforms like Scribd and memory projects like Memória e Movimentos Sociais . Celeida Tostes - Memória e Movimentos Sociais |

Tostes is also celebrated for her work with the Morro do Chapéu Mangueira community in Rio de Janeiro, where she taught residents to work with clay, bridging the gap between high art and community craftsmanship.

This work transitioned her practice from formal art to a more visceral, performance-based "art in transit," where the artist's body becomes one with the raw material. Legacy and Documentation

In this performance, Tostes was "encapsulated" nude inside a large, wet clay vessel or "egg." As the clay dried and cracked, she emerged from it, symbolizing a ritualistic rebirth from the earth.