Maria Francesca Melis: Sardinian-born illustrator blending Liberty, Maori, and botanical motifs

Maria Francesca Melis, a 30-year-old artist from Sardinia residing in New Zealand, produces illustrations that blend Liberty-style design with influences from Maori culture and Sardinian symbols. Her artwork, characterized by botanical elements and surreal details, showcases flora and fauna depicted with elegant, flowing lines. After completing her studies in classics in Sardinia, she moved to London to improve her English, where her enthusiasm for drawing was reignited during her subway commutes. Subsequently, she settled in New Zealand to pursue graphic design. Melis draws inspiration from figures such as William Morris and Maria Sibylla Merian. Currently, she is studying graphic design in Auckland while creating a series focused on New Zealand's native birds, with aspirations of illustrating a cover for The New Yorker and designing a fabric collection for Liberty.