Argentinian Artist Maitena Awarded Quevedos Prize for Contribution to Graphic Humor. Maitena has become one of the most prominent figures in Spanish-language graphic humor. Her exhibition and book have attracted interest in Madrid. The artist has been recognized with the Quevedos Prize for her contribution to culture.
Argentinian artist and illustrator Maitena, known for the series Mujeres alteradas, Superadas, and Curvas peligrosas, was awarded the prestigious Quevedos Prize this year for her contribution to Ibero-American graphic humor. An exhibition and presentation of her new book, Las mujeres de mi vida, was held in Madrid, where the author gathered key works and personal memories from four decades of creative work.
According to Maitena, the path to recognition was far from obvious: she started out with illustrations and even erotic comics, which at the time seemed provocative. The turning point was the Mujeres alteradas series, created for a women’s magazine. Its success allowed the artist to focus on one direction and give up side jobs, and her characters quickly became recognizable to a wide audience.
In her work, Maitena has always focused on the everyday lives of women of different ages, without limiting herself to a single type or theme. She admits that she never sought international fame and was not ready for the complex system of promoting her work in foreign markets, preferring to work for a Spanish-speaking audience. Maitena emphasizes that personal freedom and the ability to address close-to-home topics are more important to her than global fame.
A special place in her work is given to the topic of intergenerational dialogue: according to the artist, her humor brings mothers and daughters together, helps discuss difficult issues, and breaks stereotypes. Maitena notes that many modern concepts—from patriarchy to sorority—appeared in her works long before they became part of public discourse.
During the preparation of the exhibition and book, the curators decided to exclude some early materials that today may be seen as outdated or unethical. Maitena emphasizes that her approach has always been based on irony and goodwill, not ridicule. She believes it is the combination of humor and tenderness that has allowed her works to remain relevant and resonate with different generations.
The artist also spoke about the technical side of her work: for daily publications in Clarín she used a tablet, but now she is returning to traditional media and is planning new projects on paper. Maitena is convinced that a live drawing and personal tone are what define her style and cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.
For reference: the Quevedos prize is considered one of the main awards in the field of graphic humor in the Spanish-speaking world. Maitena became one of the few women to receive this honor. Her works have been translated into several languages, but her greatest success has come in Latin America and Spain. Mujeres alteradas and other series remain popular among readers of all ages, and the artist herself continues to be active in cultural events and exhibitions.
