ABOUT
Marta Figueiredo is an Australian-Portuguese architect and multidisciplinary artist based in Naarm/Melbourne, whose practice spans speculative design, installation, and public art. Since establishing her practice in 2018, she has been dedicated to creating work that transcends functionality, embracing inclusivity, empathy, and playfulness. Marta’s projects inspire transformative experiences, reflecting human resilience and provoking meaningful conversations. Her work emphasises emotional connections between people and objects, exploring themes of design, architecture, sustainability, and the human experience.
Known for her interplay of colour, texture, form, and scale, she sometimes incorporates elements like sound and scent to deepen the sensory experience. Marta is motivated by a desire to challenge the notion of design and find alternatives to irresponsible mass production and the concept of the "average individual" as a consumer. With this approach, she’s pushing into a new kind of artistic expression in design that aims to instigate a richer, more layered interaction between individual and object — one that has the potential to be different for each person, depending on the particularities of their mind and body. She sees design as a catalyst for meaningful conversations and positive change, going beyond practicality to inspire transformative experiences.
Marta has received numerous awards, including the 2024 Australian Furniture Design Award, the Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize 2021, High Commendation Clarence Prize for Excellence in Furniture Design (Tasmania), and the Fringe Furniture Design Award in both 2018 and 2021. She was also a finalist for the Australian Furniture Design Award in 2020. Additionally, she secured funding to participate in the City of Melbourne's Test Sites program for public art in 2021. Her work has been showcased both locally and globally, from Melbourne Now 2023 and Sydney Contemporary 2023 to Milan Design Week, Belgium Collectible Fair, Shanghai, and Metaphores - Hermes Paris.
Marta is currently engaged in a project exploring design, human experience, and adaptability.
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