Maria Massaad

Beirut, Lebanon – based in Barcelona 

In a time when individual growth, independence, and personal triumph are celebrated, María Massaad reminds us of a vital truth often forgotten: the power of the collective and the meaning of sacrifice. Her work stands as a tribute to those who came before us, those who endure today, and the hope for a tender, just future. It confronts colonial erasure, ancestral silence, and calls back to what is sacred  justice, memory, and unity.

Born in Lebanon in 1999, María relocated to Barcelona, where she transitioned from graphic design to fully embrace illustration and painting. Her practice is distinguished by vibrant, intense colors and fluid, often surreal compositions that map her personal journey. Whether on traditional or digital canvases, her art channels unrestrained emotional expression and deep inner exploration, engaging in dialogue with the world around her.
María’s work navigates grief, pain, and transformation, addressing transgenerational trauma and the complex experience of belonging—both physical and emotional. Through symbolic and abstract narratives, she seeks to break inherited patterns and foster healing via the wound.

As a self-taught artist, she works fluidly across digital and analog media. Her latest series, To die by the pines, is a visual resistance to individualism, exploring sacrifice through interwoven abstract forms. The dynamic tension between thick and thin shapes, the rhythm of push and pull, reflects the paradox of collective unity and individual distinctness. Flames burn separately yet move together  each voice matters. Together, they challenge and dismantle colonial structures, honoring sacrifice and the transformative power of collective uniqueness.

Instagram: @mariamassaad___