ANGELINA MAIA
Contemporary Cardboard Sculptor
Transforming cardboard into emotion and delicacy.
Angélina Maia creates a distinctive artistic universe in which cardboard becomes a medium for contemporary sculpture, exploring the female body, mythology, emotions and the relationship between fragility and strength.
Originally from Nantes, France, and based in Portugal for over 30 years, she began her artistic journey through oil painting. In 2011, during a cardboard furniture-making course with master craftswoman Marie-Hélène Zeidan, she discovered the sculptural potential of this unexpected material. This encounter marked a turning point in her career.
CARDBOARD LACE – A SIGNATURE TECHNIQUE
Through a meticulous process of cutting, shaping and assembling, Angélina Maia transforms humble sheets of cardboard into delicate lace-like structures. Playing with transparency, texture and volume, she creates unique sculptures in which apparent fragility contrasts with remarkable strength and presence.
Inspired by ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, her work revisits classical forms through a contemporary lens. Fragmented bodies, exposed torsos and delicate silhouettes evoke the passage of time, the vulnerability of the human condition and the resilience of women. Some works also explore deeply personal themes, including breast cancer and the relationship with the female body.
EXPLORE THE SCULPTURES
Each creation tells its own story, inviting viewers to discover the poetry hidden within materials.
MYTHOLOGY · MATERIAL GIRLS · POP · ECLECTICA · FRAGMENTS · WALL SCULPTURES
AN INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC JOURNEY
Angélina Maia has exhibited in galleries and international art events in Portugal, France and Switzerland, as well as in Copenhagen, New York, Paris and Dubai. Her participation includes Art Nordic Copenhagen, Artexpo New York, Art Shopping Paris and Art Connects Women Dubai, where she was selected to represent Portugal in 2022.
Her work is also represented in the collection of the Musée du Cartonnage et de l'Imprimerie in Valréas, France.
In 2026, she received the Jean Anouilh Prize at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, recognising her artistic work.
Discover the collections, explore available artworks or get in touch for exhibitions, collaborations and acquisitions.
