Maria Appleton (b.1997) is an artist based in Lisbon.
Questioning the subjectivity present in urban systems, Maria Appleton’s practice finds its material form an ongoing research of colour and form developed through multiple techniques of dyeing, weaving and printmaking. Her pieces unravel as chromatic in-prints onto a juxtaposition of layered cotton, silk and other industrial fabrics, defining a series of vibrant abstract transparencies.
Probing architectural conceptions of space, she defies human perception by translating optic perspectives and tracking bodily movements. Appleton delves into the dialogue established through the interaction of bodies in space, two elements that endure in a constant symbiotic relationship of metamorphosis with light. She sees the viewer as an active participant in the conception of the object itself, involved in a progressive sensorial experience open to interpretation.
Speculating on the nature of liminal spaces, a stage of emotional or physical alienation, her production merges multiple layers of geometric codes that together create cartographic compositions connected to conscious spaces of collective memory. Traversed by subversive political tensions dealing with climate awareness, social injustices, current economic systems and technological evolution the artist includes urban elements such as posters, logos and statements complemented by critical symbolisms such as a woven thick black stripe which interrupts the work itself, as a moment of pause or grief. The artist negotiates tangible presence and symbolic absence in her compositions, meaning to trigger memories, dreams or physical sensations. Appleton chains, through these methods, a set of pulsing experiences, meant to trigger a part of an universe where the architecture of public and private meet.
Appleton has presented solo exhibitions at Galeria Foco, Lisbon — “Gaze to see, Gauze to perceive” (2021) and “What Holds the Structure” (2025); Appleton BOX — “Forms of Re-existence” (2025); Espacio Tacuarí — “The Unperceptibles”(2024), Buenos Aires; Casa da Cerca — “The Storing Skin” (2023), Almada; Hatch — “Is There Yet Space for Light” (2023), Paris; ARCOmadrid and ARCOLisboa (2023/2024/2025); and Artissima Turin (2024). And group shows such as “A Soft Green Glow in the Evening Red” (2024), duo exhibition with Ann Veronica Janssens at Beije, Brussels.
Artist residencies include: Albers Foundation, Connecticut US (2026); Cortéx Frontal, Arraiolos (2025); Fondation CAB, Brussels (2024); Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris — with support from the Institut Français and the Gulbenkian Foundation (2022); Emma Kreativcentrum, plus the exhibition “Nicht eine Stadt die war”, Pforzheim, Germany (2021); Kyoto Institute of Technology, Design Lab (2018).
Her work is held in several Portuguese and International public and private collections, including the António Cachola Collection, Fondation CAB, Fundación “La Caixa”, Collection du Frac MÉCA, Vergez Collection Buenos Aires, and the Portuguese State Contemporary Art Collection Coleção de arte contemporânea do estado. (CACE).
Exhibitions
SOLO:
2025
Formas de Reexistência; Appleton Associação Cultural Box, Lisbon, PT
What Holds The Structure; Galeria Foco, Lisbon, PT
2024
Working Site; Artissima (booth 18), Hatch, Turin, IT
Open Studio at Fondation CAB, Brussels, BE
Unperceptibles; Espacio Tacuarí (Vergez Collection), Buenos Aires, AR
The Storing skin, Membrana da sedimentação; Casa da Cerca, Almada, PT
2023
Memory Breaks; ARCO Madrid (booth 9OPo4), Galeria Foco, Madrid, ES
Is there yet Space for Light; Hatch, Paris, FR
2022
Open Studio at Cité International des Arts, Paris, FR
2021
Gaze to see, Gauze to perceive; Galeria Foco, Lisbon, PT
Reflexions upon Space; ÚTERO, Lisbon, PT
2020
A System of Thing-Shapes; sound installation collaboration with Miguel Alves (slowmo.mike), Cosmos Campolide, Lisbon, PT
2015
[Woven textiles piece]; MU.SA - Museu das Artes de Sintra, Sintra, PT
GROUP:
2026
1, 2 Glissade et Changement, Hatch Gallery, Paris, Fr
Matassa, Centro de Arqueologia e Artes - Cortéx Frontal, Beja, PT
2025
Peninsulares 2025 | 5os EncontrosS Ibéricos de Arte Têxtil Contemporânea, Guimarães, PT + Pontevedra, ES.
ARCO Lisboa, Galeria Foco, Lisbon, PT
Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa – Parte 1 | L’Atlas Paris, Galeria Foco, Paris, FR
2024
A soft green glow in the evening red, w/ Ann Veronica Janssens, BEIGE, Brussels, BE
How does it feel on the tongue?Fabric Arts Festival, Massachusetts, USA
[Visual installation] Ufonic Festival, Mono, Lisbon, PT
Random, AZAN Contemporary Art, Lisbon, PT
Highly Confusing Times, Arbag, Lisbon, PT
The Myth Makers, Hatch (curated by Barbara Newman), Milan, IT
ARCO Madrid, Galeria Foco, Madrid, ES
2023
So close, come on; Badr el Jundi, Madrid, ES
L'art c'est le vent; Monaco
2022
Open Studio with Catarina Pinto Leite, Castelo di’f, Lisbon, PT
Garage Band; Hatch, Paris, FR
If Only; Mono, Lisbon, PT
Active Activism Act; IDEAL, Barcelona, ES
2021
Amuse-Bouche; Galeria Foco, Lisbon, PT
2020
Nicht eine Stadt, die war; stadt bad virtual reality exhibition (part of EMMA Kreativecentrum Residencie), Pforzheim, DE
Showcase of Portuguese Young Artists; Pousio – Arte e Cultura, online
2019
Places in Between Nowhere and Everywhere; Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK
Paper and Objects; Triangle Space, Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK
2018
Showcase at Premiére Vision Paris (Chelsea College of Arts stand), Paris, FR
Residencies
Spring 2026
Albers Foundation Residency, Connecticut, USA
2024
Cortex Frontal, Arraiolos, PT
Fondation CAB (invited by Huber Bonnet), Brussels, BE
2022
Cité International des Arts, with the special support from Institut Français and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Paris, FR
2020
Designers in Residence, EMMA Kreativecentrum, Pforzheim, DE
2018
Textiles Summer School, Research Programme Scholarship; Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, JP
Collections
Works included in various Portuguese and international public and private collections.
Public ones include:
MACE, António Cachola Collection - Elvas Museum of Contemporary Art, (PT); 2023
CAB Foundation (BE) 2024 - Vergez Collection (AR) 2024
La Caixa Foundation (ES) 2025
Frac MÉCA Collection (FR) 2025 - CACE, Portuguese State Contemporary Art Collection, (PT) 2025
Press
2026
“Hatch ouvre un espace permanent”. Le Quotidien de L’Art [LES ESSENTIELS DU JOUR, pp. 6], 17 Mar 2026.
2025
“Deus, Intuição e Rock and Roll”. Jornal de Letras, year XLV, no. 1428, 25–8 Jul. 2024, pp. 22–23.
“Maria Appleton: What Holds The Structure”. Contemporânea, Ed. 2025, www.contemporanea.pt
“Lisboa não sejas francesa”. Jornal de Letras, year XLV, no. 1422, 2–15 Apr. 2024, pp. 22–23.
2024
[Maria Appleton, Ann Veronica Janssens]. Contemporary Art Library,www.contemporaryartlibrary.org
“A soft green glow in the evening red at BEIGE / Brussels”. Daily Lazy, www.daily-lazy.com
“Apre a Milano la HATCH Gallery di Parigi, format senza sede (per ora) per artisti emergenti”.Artribune,www.artribune.com
2023
“Rochebouët, Béatrice d; Artmonte-Carlo: des œuvres phares et un tout petit monde”. Le Figaro, www.lefigaro.fr
“Au-delà de la foire... « L’Art, c’est dans le vent »”. Le Quotidien de l’Art,www.lequotidiendelart.com
“Une exposition : « Is There Yet Space For Light », la première exposition personnelle de Maria Appleton”. Sloft Magazine,www.sloft-magazine.com
2022
“Les nouveaux talents de l’art envahissent un garage désaffecté sur l’initiative du duo Hatch”. Número, www.numero.com
“Maria Appleton; Windows Cry Neon, an Olfactive Journal.” Folie
À Plusieurs,www.folie.space
2021
“Site-specific dances of synthesised weaving”. DATEAGLE ART,www.dateagle.art
“Fresh laundry of hypnotising hues”.DATEAGLE ART,www.dateagle.art
“Amuse-Bouche, na Galeria Foco”.Umbigo,www.umbigomagazine.com
2020
“Virtual Presentation. Designers in Residence in Pforzheim 2020”. Klimt02, www.klimt02.net
“Maria Appleton”. auprès Journal (Tête-à-tête), www.aupres-aupres.com
“Prática e Luminosa”. Urbana, november issue, www.urbana.com.pt
Emma – Creative Center Pforzheim. Maria Appleton, www.emma-pf.de
“Project: Vogue Union | João Magalhães, o autodidata”.Vogue Portugal, www.vogue.pt
2019
Nike; www.arts.ac.uk
“Chelsea Textile Design Students: Zara Kids Collaboration”. University of the Arts London,www.arts.ac.uk
2018
“BA Textile Design Research Trip to Kyoto Institute of Technology”, University of the Arts London,
www.arts.ac.uk
Reads
2025
Thames and Hudson. “How Textiles are shaping the contemporary arts", Ramona Barry and Beck Jobson. 2025
2021
All I WANT, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian; exhibition review, Brotéria, September 2021
2020
O Tecido, O Trato, A Trepadeira; Legómena, Brotéria, April 2020
2019
Appleton, Maria. Places in Between Nowhere and Everywhere, Splash Books
Achievements
2024
Prize won - New Entries Fund 2024, Artissima Torino. Solo booth
2019
Old Soles New Souls,award-winning project for Nike’s Material Innovation Competition
Award-winning project for Zara VIEW.S (live competition project)
Education
2016
BA (Hons) Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts, London, UK
2015
Graphic Design Foundation Course, Camberwell College of Arts, London, UK
2014
Painting Short Course, Ar.Co, Lisbon, PT
2012
Escola Artística António Arroio (Artistic School), Lisbon, PT