Maria do Rosário Frade

Maria do Rosário Frade

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If anyone can bottle chaos, it's Maria Frade. The Portugal-born, Paris-residing artist’s geometric shapes collide with sharp Gallic humour.

The Portugal-born, Paris-residing artist’s geometric shapes collide with sharp Gallic humour. Joyful lines dance with intense colours – often set in motion by her partner, motion designer Damien Martin. Look for her oddball characters and subtle Easter eggs. She calls it a “happy graphic style,” always served with a rebellious edge. Always precise, fresh, and relevant, Frade has a gift for unravelling complex subjects into compelling narratives.

It's a talent that captures the spirit of our time for powerhouses like Wired, The Economist, and ESPN – tackling everything from the culture shock of AI to the unvarnished realities of women's football. But her keen eye for culture shines beyond the headlines. See: Raleigh Ritchie's Murakami-esque flower blooming in a monochrome world. Maria Frade turns the world on its head.

Maria deftly mixes pop culture, rock vibes, French wit, and Asian influences into a mixture that’s always bold and full of life.

What makes you different?

“That weird in-between – moments where something's about to happen, or nothing at all, and everyone's holding their breath.”

Maria’s practice extends beyond stills - in collaboration with animator Damien Martin, the duo conjures work that unfurls on the screen with a trance-like rhythm.

“Silly things feel deep and deep things feel silly. If a piece feels strange but somehow makes sense, I’ve hit the mark.”