FORA x Madalena Pequito: Inside the collaboration

What connects us to the places we call home, the people who came before us, and the cultures that shape who we are? For visual artist Madalena Pequito, the answer lies in the invisible threads of identity, memory and belonging. With FORA x Madalena Pequito, we celebrate these connections through a collaboration that brings art into everyday life.

We invited Madalena to create a bespoke artwork for FORA, reimagining the everyday microfiber cleaning cloth as a canvas for storytelling. The result, Means Outside (or Wherever You Are), plays with FORA’s “means outside” slogan while offering a more intimate reflection on the people, places and memories that remain with us, wherever life takes us. Its title is also a tribute to those who are no longer with us but continue to be woven into our collective tapestry.

Every element of the artwork carries a meaning. Trees, with their roots stretching beneath the surface, become symbols of identity, family and collective memory. Much like the roots that anchor a tree, our own histories connect us to our origins while shaping the way we grow and relate to others. A patterned sofa with glasses printed, evokes the familiarity of Portuguese homes, recalling shared moments, domestic rituals and the comfort of belonging. Eyeglasses offer another nod to our Portuguese heritage, adding a personal touch to an artwork where cultural references and intimate memories come together.

These details reflect the essence of Madalena’s artistic practice. Working across painting and pictorial installations, she explores identity, cultural differences and the relationships that bind us. Her approach is intuitive and personal, embracing not only the beauty of these connections but also the insecurities and challenges that accompany artistic creation.

Madalena studied at Escola Artística António Arroio before graduating in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Lisbon. She later completed a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Enterprise at Central Saint Martins in London. Her work has been presented at international biennials and exhibited in Portugal, Macau, Budapest and New York. She is currently part of VÊS.TRÊS collective and FANICO studio, where we visited her to photograph the artist alongside the bespoke artwork created for this collaboration.

At FORA, we believe that everyday objects can carry stories, spark conversations and offer new ways of seeing the world around us. This collaboration is an invitation to look closer, to recognise the histories embedded in familiar objects, and to reflect on the people and places that make us who we are.

By bringing Madalena’s artwork onto a microfiber cleaning cloth, we blur the boundaries between art and function, transforming an everyday essential into something personal and meaningful. It is a small object with a bigger story: one about roots, remembrance and the connections that endure.

Discover FORA x Madalena Pequito, explore the story behind Means Outside (or Wherever You Are), and find the collaboration online and in our five stores.