maskistas

Maskistas are artists and performers who use masks as the central medium of their practice, combining performance, sculpture, and installation to explore identity, anonymity, and social perception.

The term is a portmanteau of mask and the -ista suffix, reflecting influences from traditional masquerade and modern performance art. It emerged in contemporary art discourse in the early 21st century, with practitioners in various urban centers.

Practices include creating or adapting masks from materials such as papier-mâché, resin, wood, or silicone, and presenting works in galleries, theatres, festivals, or public spaces. Performances may be silent, accompanied by music, or integrated with dance, spoken word, or interactive elements. Many Maskistas work in ensembles or collaborative collectives; some produce wearable sculptures that invite audience engagement.

Themes include identity, surveillance, ritual memory, collective experiences, and power dynamics. The masks serve to conceal or reveal aspects of self and society. The movement has been described as both inclusive and contested, with debates about appropriation, commercialization of mask culture, and the ethics of anonymity in public performance.

Notable developments include cross-disciplinary collaborations, mask-making workshops, and residencies that examine facial prosthetics and wearability.