Maria Appleton is a Portuguese textile artist based in Lisbon whose practice explores the interplay of color, form, and space through techniques of dyeing, weaving, and printmaking. Born in 1997 and trained at Chelsea College of Arts in London, Appleton creates vibrant abstract transparencies by layering cotton, silk, and industrial fabrics into chromatic compositions that respond to light and spatial interactions. Her work investigates liminal spaces—both emotional and physical—where geometric codes and chromatic imprints converge to form cartographic compositions connected to collective memory and urban systems. Questioning the subjectivity present in architecture and the symbiotic relationship between bodies and space, she positions the viewer as an active participant in a progressive sensorial experience. Her work incorporates subversive political tensions addressing climate awareness, social injustices, and economic systems, often integrating urban elements like posters and logos alongside critical symbolisms such as woven black stripes that interrupt the composition as moments of pause or grief. Appleton has exhibited in solo shows at Espacio Tacuarí in Buenos Aires, Casa da Cerca in Almada, Hatch in Paris, and Galeria Foco in Lisbon, and has completed residencies at institutions including Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and EMMA Kreativzentrum in Germany.
