Chica Seal (b. 1991, Lisbon) is a British painter and sculptor whose interdisciplinary practice reclaims and reimagines the female perspective, responding to the historical misrepresentation of women.
Fascinated by the depiction of women throughout art history and the evolving nature of beauty ideals, Seal draws on contemporary culture, mythology, medieval folklore, storytelling and popular culture to construct layered narratives. Her compositions, rich in recurring motifs, decisive line and vibrant colour, offer both a symbolic and humorous commentary on the complexities of the human psyche.
Seal works fluidly across painting, printmaking, stone carving and terracotta sculpture, combining craftsmanship with conceptual enquiry. Each medium offers a distinct texture and sensibility, enabling her to shift between fragility and monumentality.
Influenced by artists including Nancy Spero, Sophie von Hellermann, Lee Miller and Mamma Andersson, Chica Seal's practice is rooted in rigorous research and personal experience, producing a visual language that is at once direct, playful and deeply personal.
Seal honed her skills while studying Fine Art at Brighton University, completing an MA in Fine Art Painting. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and art events including MutualArt, and is held in private collections. She continues to expand her practice through research and experimentation, exploring new ways of storytelling that centre women’s voices and experiences.
Before beginning a new painting or body of work, Chica often comes up with a narrative or title, this creates a clear image, similar to a stage set; this may connect to previous work or signal the start of a new theme. This is a natural and intuitive process rooted in a strong reliance on imagination. She draws inspiration from the way writers can evoke vivid imagery with a single sentence, recognising that each viewer's interpretation is shaped by their own experience.
In this new body of work, the artist examines the shifting boundaries between humans and animals which was sparked by the quiet and transformative presence of a dog in her own domestic space. Whilst accustoming to a new animal, the artist utilises the dog as a symbol of intuition and watchfulness. This series was painted eye level with birds in flight from an attic studio. The painter captures a perspective that blurs the divide of the interior to exterior and paints both wild and domestic animals as symbolic vessels for emotions.
