ABOUT
Marta Figueiredo is an Australian–Portuguese multidisciplinary artist, designer, and trained architect based in Naarm/Melbourne. Her practice spans experimental design, sculpture, installation, public art, and performance—exploring how materials, objects, and spatial experiences can express stories of care, resilience, and the body, particularly through the lens of chronic illness and feminist thought.
Marta’s work reimagines design as a catalyst for reflection, dialogue, and social transformation—transcending functionality to embrace inclusivity, empathy, and sensory engagement. Her projects often integrate colour, texture, scent, sound, and form to provoke layered, personal interactions that challenge ideas of normative design, productivity, and the “average user.” Drawing from disability-led and feminist perspectives, her work makes space for emotional, embodied, and often invisible narratives. She is also increasingly exploring participatory methods, interested in how co-creation and collaboration can surface embodied knowledge and underrepresented narratives.
In 2024, Marta received the Australian Furniture Design Award for Chronicles of Resilience, a sculptural cabinet honouring the lived experiences of people with endometriosis. That same year, she was invited to speak at Design Tasmania’s Agents of Change: Women in Design colloquium, where she presented her approach to inclusive design and material storytelling. Other recognitions include the Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize and a High Commendation for the Clarence Prize for Excellence in Furniture Design. She has also received support from the City of Melbourne’s Test Sites program for public art.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including Melbourne Now at the NGV, Sydney Contemporary, Milan Design Week, Collectible Brussels, Métaphores – Hermès Paris, and Shanghai.
She is currently working on a research-led collaboration with human geographer Dr. Elisabetta Crovara, exploring how design can translate the lived experience of chronic illness into poetic, spatial, and material storytelling.
EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
2024
Recipient of Australian Furniture Design Award (AFDA 2024) - NGV / STYLECRAFT/ JAM FACTORY
2023
Diva Garden Sculptural Group for the Dorset Hotel Melbourne CBD
Melbourne Now 2023 Exhibition, NGV Australia
Jury of VIVID Emerging Designer Awards 23
Foreign Dialogues - Exhibition Co-curated by Marta Figueiredo and Dominika Kuthova - Presented by Finkelstein Gallery
The Silos Project - MDW 2023
Melbourne Design Fair 2023 Exhibitor
Commission LE MERIDIEN Hotel Melbourne CBD
2022
Sydney Contemporary - Presented by Finkelstein Gallery
The Chair Exhibition - Craft Victoria
Melbourne Design Fair. SELECT Section Curated by NGV
Windgate Sings the City. Performance at MPavilion
DIY Neighbourhood. Urban Design Forum. Guest Artist MDW22
2021
Highly Commended award in the Clarence prize for Excellence in Furniture Design 2021 - Tasmania, with Elementary Abacus
Public Art Grant with Test Sites 2021 - City of Melbourne Council & Testing Grounds - Tree Spirit
High Commendation - Sustainable Award of WORKSHOPPED21 by Centre for Australian Design
Recipient of the Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize - Stardust
Best in Lighting Award at Fringe Furniture - Stardust
Design Innovation Award Supported by MPavillion - Stardust
Commendation at The Design Files Awards - lighting category - Stardust
Shortlist - MPavilion 2021 chair design competition - Assembly Chair
Finalist of Vivid Design Awards 2021 - lighting & colour category - Stardust
“A world we don’t want “ - Friends and Associates - exhibiting Windgate, Melbourne Design Week 2021
By-Product (Circular.Open.Design) - exhibiting Stardust, Melbourne Design Week 2021
Brave Blooms - exhibiting Elementary Abacus, Melbourne Design Week 2021
2020
Vivid Design Awards – Elementary Abacus – Australian Design Alliance Award of Merit
Collectible Fair – Art Lexing Gallery Booth - Brussels
Finalist of Australian Furniture Design Award (AFDA 2020) - NGV / STYLECRAFT/ JAM FACTORY
AFDA Award 2020 Finalists Exhibition - Stylecraft Showroom
Metaphore Paris - Hermes Holding Textiles showroom - for Paris Deco Off
‘SCHEHERAZADE’ Collective Exhibition – Art Lexing Gallery, Shanghai
Isola Goes Digital - Isola Virtual Exhibition - Milan
2019
Evolve Awards – Finalist - Highly Commended
TDF Awards – ToTems Prima Familia - Highly Commended
Euroluce Sydney – Milan Edited Exhibition
Vivid Design Awards – Cossack and Queen & Candy N.2 – Colour Award
A.G.M. Expo – Annual General Design Meeting, Friends and Associates, Melbourne
Milan Design Week – Local Design show 5Vie
2018
Fringe Furniture 32 - Award for “Most Experimental Design”
Denfair – ToTems first presentation
PUBLICATIONS
Vogue Living Australia - May 2020 Edition - Interview
AD China April Edition 2020 - featuring the Cossack & Queen ToTems
WALLPAPER - Melbourne Design Week features Elementary Abacus
AD Germany / A Choice Trend 2020 Best of the Year selection - featuring the Prima Familia Totems
AD Italy - April Edition Milan Design Week 2019 - feature the Prima Familia Totems
Belle Magazine May 2019 Edition
Financial Review Australia – Local Milan 2019