Nicknamed ‘The Mad One’ for her radical approach to graffiti art, Claudia Walde works under the name MadC as a graffiti artist, muralist and designer, based in Berlin. Internationally recognised for her vibrant and arresting public works on a monumental scale, her nearly 30-year career boasts murals across the world, from New York to Abu Dhabi. MadC has recently taken her street art practice into the studio, simultaneously producing large outdoor murals, canvas paintings and digital art.  

Born in Bautzen, Germany, and raised in Ethiopia, MadC discovered art at a young age, taking courses with local artists in the early 1990s. She began as a graffiti writer as a teenager, painting her first graffiti piece aged 16. She then expanded into graphic design, studying at Nurg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, and then at Central Saint Martins College, London, blending her formal education with her graffiti background. These dual concerns have consistently shaped her artistic career, as her themes blend street art and fine art references, and her unique tagging style is inspired by artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and the renowned late graffiti artist Dare.