Who am I?
Born in Toronto, Canada, Maia Matches is a respected underground artist in the Netherlands, with a predilection for candid details and a sharp eye for feminist concerns. In addition to producing journalistic drawings covering social issues in the zeitgeist, her signature character BITCH is a hallmark of her sexual satire – a BDSM loving action-hero, scantily clad in a bikini and combat boots.
Maia was granted a subsidy in 2020-21 for her research of South African artists during apartheid from the Creative Industries Fund NL. Her passion for this project will one day be presented in graphic novel format.
In 2019, the Archives of Amsterdam awarded her the title of City Illustrator, an honorarium which allowed her to publish new work in national newspaper Het Parool. Maia has exhibited and spoke about the themes she approached as City Illustrator on numerous occassions, including an interview with Tracy Metz in Pakhuis de Zwijger and a panel discussion on sex work in the Amsterdam Museum in early 2020 (pre-pandemic).
