Back in 2022, we welcomed French artist, Mateo Humano, to Enter Gallery for Ink and Paper – his first solo show in the UK. The people of Brighton couldn’t get enough of this contemporary artist whose powerful yet peaceful spray paint artworks depict women against the complex patterns of ornamental carpets.

Mateo continues to accrue international acclaim for his work, which combines street art techniques with classic portraiture. After painting original portraits directly onto beautiful rugs, Mateo’s works are transformed into ethereal limited edition prints that celebrate feminine strength and creative energy.

Today, we’re delighted to be bringing you Masha - a new Mateo Humano artwork, which is available exclusively at Enter Gallery now. In this blog, we chat to the artist about his latest commanding work and everything that it represents…

Meet Masha

Depicted with golden feline eyes and in regal shades of blue and yellow, Masha is a truly striking piece that immediately catches your attention.

The captivating artwork emanates a quiet sense of power and poise that perfectly encapsulates the themes Mateo wishes to explore in his work, namely, celebrating the feminine energy associated with creativity and creation.

 

Masha began life as all Mateo Humano artworks do – as a portrait painted directly onto an ornamental carpet. Right away, Mateo knew he was on to something special. He reveals:

 

“When I painted it, right away, I felt like it was super powerful. It felt special and I really wanted to keep it. However, around that time, I was working with a gallery in Soho in New York – the neighbourhood of Basquiat and Andy Warhol, all the big artists of the New York scene that were such an inspiration for me. That gallery wanted to display the original. I was reluctant but I also wanted to exhibit for the first time in this iconic location. Anyway, someone bought it before it even arrived at the show so it never even went on display there! I’m so happy to have made Masha into a print, because it allows more people to see it and enjoy it.”

 

 

Meditative Magic
One of the reasons Masha felt so special was because during the creation process, Mateo experienced total focus, almost like he was in a deep state of meditation.

Much like his 2022 work, Lavada, this new artwork presents us with a visual representation of what it feels like to meditate. In addition to simply suggesting the location of where meditation happens, the artwork emanates the same sense of calm and clarity that the practice can provide. Mateo explains:

 

“For me, this piece looks how meditation can feel. It gives a sense of the heat, movement and concentration that you experience while in a meditative state. It’s also representative of the complex power of meditation, and how the practice can affect your thoughts, mood and decision-making. The patterns are also reflective of what you can see when your eyes are closed and you’re focusing on your third eye.”

 

 

Sacred Geometry

Mateo has positioned his subject to put her third eye at the centre of the artwork, right where the focus of the patterns of the carpet culminate. In doing so, he continues the exploration of sacred geometry that we see across his oeuvre, highlighting the idea that the third eye is the central location in our bodies for creative thought and new ideas.

For those new to the concept, sacred geometry is the idea that certain geometric shapes and ratios found in nature, ancient architecture and religious iconography, have sacred and powerful energies. These are said to be the foundation of all living things, and the building blocks of the universe.

With this in mind, Masha explores our imaginations and how many of life’s greatest creations were born within this space, while in a state of contemplation. Mateo elaborates:

 

“Much of my art is inspired by my explorations across the world, and my individual pursuit of enlightenment and truth. Through Masha and all of my work, I like to use ancient symbolism to consider the complexities of the human condition.”

 

 

The Act of Creation

Given this artwork is an exploration of creativity, we were interested to hear how Mateo makes his work, and how this artwork in particular came to be. He tells us:

 

“I spend hours matching my sketches with my carpets. There are hundreds of possibilities, but when I saw the combination that I have in Masha, I knew instantly that it was right. There was a sense of recognition, of something familiar. When people look at Masha, I hope they feel that sense of recognition.”

 

This print began life as an original painting directly onto an ornamental carpet. As Mateo only has one shot to get it right, it’s important to approach his unusual canvas with caution…

 

“I only have one shot to get it right, so I have to approach it gently. I apply the stencil to the carpet, and then use transparent greys rather than thick black lines to gradually, carefully bring the piece alive.”

  

A Meaningful Year

Alongside launching this new exclusive with Enter Gallery, the last 12 months have been significant for Mateo. Back in December, he took his empowering depictions of women to Saudi Arabia, sharing his work at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Art.

 

 

In the exhibition, Ink and Silk, Mateo presented his portraits on Persian rugs, transcending cultural boundaries by bringing ancient crafts together with contemporary art.

Given Saudi Arabia’s history, we were interested to understand what it was like to bring his specific style of art to the nation. He reveals:

 

“It was a big achievement for me to have my art featured in a museum. It was not something I ever imagined would happen, so it was very special. Exhibiting in a museum is more than showcasing art – it’s an invitation to dialogue with history. It was an opportunity to connect, inspire and weave narratives that endure, and I was grateful to contribute to that timeless conversation.

It was also a complex experience to be presenting my work in Saudi Arabia. To be representing female power and creativity in a country that have different values was interesting and I’m proud to have done so. I met the Sheikh and the Royal family but for me, the most interesting part of the experience was chatting to the women about the art and how they were touched by my work. Many of them already followed my work on social media, so they were grateful to see it in real life.”

 

 

Masha is available exclusively at Enter Gallery now.

Explore our full collection of Mateo Humano artworks