Madame Pagu

Madame Pagu
Montaldeo, Italy

STATEMENT

I sew things. Metaphorically and materially. My practice investigates the ontology of the image, utilizing collage as an existential process of stitching together fragments—family fabrics, archival photographs, found objects, and digital elements—to reconstruct universes that harbor narratives of what permeates my being. My work is an invitation to “slow time,” an affective archaeology that uses the juxtaposition of layers to inquire into the capacities of memory and the perception of the passage of time, treating imperfection as the most faithful portrait of our humanity. Central to my research is the investigation of female identity and power dynamics, reflecting my trajectory between Brazil and Italy and transposing into art an early understanding of the tensions between Law and Justice. By reclaiming manual traditions to navigate the tension between the intimate and the political, I seek to dissolve the boundaries between the personal and the collective, transforming the viewer into an active participant in a profound questioning of the structures that sustain our personal relationships and histories.

BIO

Madame Pagu (Brazil) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and educator currently living and working in Italy. Her practice is deeply immersed in the feminine universe, investigating dynamics of power, the perception of time, and the complexities of identity and memory—conceptual and aesthetic pillars that anchor her poetic experiments. Utilizing collage, textile art, photography, and new media as her primary investigative tools, she develops works that challenge established narratives through a lens of “slow movement” and materiality. Her work has been widely recognized and selected for prestigious platforms, including “This Is Essential Work” (United Kingdom, 2025), “Madonnas and Fridas” (Brazil, 2025), “MonFest Biennial” (Brazil, 2022), “Festfoto” (Brazil, 2022/2021), “Pequeno Encontro da Fotografia” (Brazil, 2022/2021), and COCA – Center for Contemporary Artists (Italy, 2021). Madame Pagu has exhibited in solo and group shows across Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

ARTIST CONTACT

[click to email]
www.madamepagu.com

IMAGES