By Beautiful Machine Magazine Staff

At just 22 years old, surrealist portrait artist Mia Fritchie is already establishing herself as a bold and imaginative voice in contemporary art. Drawing inspiration from iconic visionaries like Frida Kahlo, Hieronymus Bosch, and the whimsical dreamscapes of Gekidan Inu Curry, Mia’s work is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Her primary medium—acrylic on canvas—becomes a stage where identity, memory, and vulnerability take shape in breathtakingly layered compositions. For Mia, painting is more than artistic expression; it is a coping mechanism, a way of processing her own past traumas while inviting viewers to consider what lies beneath the surface of the human experience.

Mia’s fascination with imagery of clowns and jesters, alongside motifs of dissection, anatomy, and what exists underneath the skin, gives her work a hauntingly beautiful quality. Yet, unlike traditional depictions that lean toward horror, she transforms these elements into something almost romantic, tender, and even graceful. Her art asks us to look at pain, absurdity, and the body not with fear, but with curiosity and reverence.

While acrylic is her foundation, Mia often experiments with mixed media, pushing the boundaries of her surrealist portraits into unexpected territory. The results are works that feel alive—strange yet familiar, unsettling yet comforting, and always full of narrative depth.

Mia’s art is not just about images, but about truth and transformation. She gives form to emotions that are often hidden, creating pieces that resonate with honesty, complexity, and raw beauty. At 22, she stands not only as a promising young artist but as a powerful reminder that true artistry lies in daring to explore the worlds ourselves.