Conference Cycle Great Artists on Campus #5: Wasted Rita

Wasted Rita (b. 1988, Porto) is a Portuguese artist and illustrator based in Lisbon whose critically engaged practice explores the complexities of contemporary existence through sardonic humour and unflinching honesty. A self-proclaimed “natural-born provocateur”, she channels her observations on human behaviour and cultural absurdities into incisive visual statements that fuse humour with existential critique.

Trained in graphic design at the University of Porto, she gained international recognition through her blog “Bored Rita” (2012), which drew widespread attention for its characteristic handwritten statements and acerbic commentary. Her distinctive black-and-white, text-based works, often described as “pseudo-poetry”, reflect an unconventional upbringing in a Catholic school soundtracked by punk rock, resulting in pearls of wisdom steeped in acid that interrogate contemporary culture. Working across multiple media, including sculptural objects, installation, painting, drawing, and writing, Wasted Rita has exhibited internationally since 2011.

Notable presentations include Banksy’s Dismaland (Weston-super-Mare, 2015), Underdogs Gallery Lisbon (multiple solo exhibitions, 2015–2019), MAAT Lisbon (2018), Iminente Festival (various locations, 2016–2019), and Beyond the Streets New York (2021). Her work appeared in Madonna’s “Gun Control” music video (2019).

Recognised as one of Portugal’s emerging figures by the newspaper Público (2015), she received the Novos Award for Creativity (2016) and was nominated for Best Visual Arts Exhibition at the Prémios Autores (2018).