A cheeky little princess - all grown up - exploring culture through melancholically rose-tinted eyes*
Maria Thaddea (b.2002) is an emerging Chinese-Indonesian-Australian interdisciplinary creative currently practising on Gadigal land. Her practice acts as an ode to self and community as she explores notions of perception, culture and belonging – especially as it relates to her feminine and diasporic identity.
Her works are self-proclaimed melancholically sweet bastardisations of her heritage as she tries to grasp and cling onto her fleetingly skewed amalgams of cultural memories. Through ceramics, prints and immersive installations, she attempts to weave a dreamscape for the lost little girl who always seemed to feel out of place.
Education
UNSW Art & Design (2020-2023) Bachelor of Design (First Class Honours)
UNSW Art & Design (2020-2023) Bachelor of Design (First Class Honours)
Solo Exhibitions
2023
“False Ink-lings; Diasporic Limbo”, AD Space, Sydney,
2023
“False Ink-lings; Diasporic Limbo”, AD Space, Sydney,
2022
“False Ink-lings; Echo Chambers”, Blackbox(UNSW), Sydney
“False Ink-lings; Echo Chambers”, Blackbox(UNSW), Sydney
Group Exhibitions
2025
2025
"Matterhood", Kudos Offsite, Stanley Street Gallery, Darlinghurst, Sydney
"More Than Reproduction Edition Six", Our Neon Foe, Sydney
"Let's Eat", Blank Gallery, Sydney
"Reverberation", Gallery Lane Cove, Sydney
2024
"Queertopia", Mardiqueer, Project Unity, Marrickville, Sydney
"Double Happiness", Kudos Offsite, Haymarket, Sydney
“More Than Reproduction Edition Five”, Broadhurst Gallery, Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Sydney
2023
UNSWADA Annual 2023, UNSW Gallery, Sydney
“Kudos Emerging Awards”, Woodburn Creatives, Sydney
“Mama’s House”, AD Space, Sydney
“You, me & us.”, no.23, Sydney
“A Summer Show”, Goodspace Gallery, Sydney
2022
UNSW Annual 2022, UNSW Galleries, Sydney
UNSW Annual 2022, UNSW Galleries, Sydney
Awards & Prizes
2024
People of Print Gradspotter
Shortlisted, Colin Holden Print Prize
Finalist, Kudos Emerging Artist
Public Art
2024
Georges River Council Lunar New Year Mural
Residencies
2025
2025
Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios (Lane Cove & Greenwich), Sydney
Publications
In Conversation with Phoebe McIlwraight, Emerging Collectors' Club March/April 2025, Curatorial + Co
Gradspotters Prospects | Maria Thaddea, Robyn Pitts, People of Print
Profiles; Maria Thaddea, More Than Reproduction
Experience
2025
Screen-printing Technician (University of New South Wales)
Graphic Designer & Gallery Assistant (Blank Gallery)
2024
Graphic Designer and 2D Animator (University of New South Wales)
Graphics & Gallery Intern (Redbase Contemporary Art Space)
Screen-printing Facilitator (More Than Reproduction)
Intern (EST Media & Chris Yee)
Screen-printing Assistant (More Than Reproduction (Sydney Shimmer Fest))
Casual Gallery Assistant (4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (4A/24 - Art in the Heart of Haymarket)
Translation Team Member (Massive Action Sydney (Bruce Mau and Bisi Williams’ Massive Change Network & UNSW))