Miss.Tic
Miss.Tic, born Radhia Novat on February 20, 1956, in Paris, France, was a pioneering figure in the world of street art. Known for her evocative and poetic stencils, she left an indelible mark on the urban landscapes of Paris and beyond. Growing up in the culturally vibrant Montmartre district, she was influenced by the artistic milieu around her, which eventually led her to pursue a career in the arts.
In the early 1980s, she spent several years in California, immersing herself in the punk scenes of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Upon returning to Paris, she began creating her designs on the walls of neighborhoods such as Ménilmontant, Montmartre, le Marais, Montorgueil, and la Butte-aux-Cailles.
In the mid-1980s, when Miss.Tic began her artistic journey, it was a time when all artists adopted pseudonyms. Miss Tic is named after a witch from Scrooge, a newspaper from the Mickey Mouse era. Miss Tic is a Disney character, a witch who constantly fails in her attempts to steal from the wealthy duck Scrooge. The artist was drawn to the image of this unsuccessful witch, liking the idea of a character who fails at everything she does. Additionally, the name Miss Tic immediately signaled that she was a woman.
Initially, she created self-portraits but eventually grew tired of focusing on her own image. By coincidence, she began using as a model the women seen in media like advertisements and women's magazines, typically used to sell products. The artist wanted these women to convey a message instead. So her works featured images of women accompanied by clever and incisive phrases, addressing themes of feminism, identity, and societal expectations. Her distinctive style and poignant messages quickly garnered attention and established her as a unique voice in the street art movement.
Miss.Tic - L'art nuit à la stupidité (2022). Printmaking. 70 x 50 cm.
In 1985, she took part in the inaugural gathering of the graffiti and urban art movement in Bondy, France, organized by the VLP, alongside notable artists such as Speedy Graphito, Kim Prisu, Jef Aérosol, SP 38, Epsylon Point, Blek le Rat, Futura 2000, Nuklé-Art, and Banlieue-Banlieue. The same year, she held her first solo exhibition featuring her unique art.
Drawing strong women paired with incisive sentences, her creations speak of liberty. Miss-Tic's art is a delicate blend of lightness and seriousness, nonchalance and provocation, resulting in a distinctive expression. Her visual arts practice began with thick, textured black paintbrush strokes across large-scale stencils on the walls of Paris, France. While her work might seem like simple brushstroke creations, it carried immense value and meaning for women worldwide. Miss-Tic's paintings and wall graffiti often featured clever wordplay and a heroine with flowing black hair, reflecting the artist herself, and became permanent fixtures on walls throughout the capital.
Miss.Tic's legacy extends beyond her artistic achievements; she inspired a generation of street artists and left an enduring influence on the art world. Her ability to merge visual art with literary expression set her apart as a trailblazer in both fields.
Miss.Tic passed away on May 22, 2022, but her work continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. Her stencils remain a symbol of resistance, empowerment, and artistic innovation, ensuring that her voice and vision endure in the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary art.
Miss.Tic - TROP HEUREUSE POUR ÊTRE PEUREUSE (2008). Lithography on Paper. 76 x 56 cm.
Exhibitions and collections
Miss.Tic's art was not confined to the streets; she also exhibited her work in galleries and museums, bridging the gap between urban art and the traditional art world. Her exhibitions spanned across Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world, earning her international recognition. Some of her notable exhibitions included shows at the Galerie Lélia Mordoch in Paris and participation in various art festivals and biennales.
Since 1986, she has regularly exhibited in galleries across France and internationally, gaining recognition from fashion circles (Kenzo, Louis Vuitton) and the film industry (in 2007, she designed the advertising poster for Claude Chabrol’s movie "A Girl Cut in Two"). Miss-Tic also contributed to the 2010 edition of Petit Larousse by illustrating French words and created a book of 12 stamps for the French postal service, La Poste, in 2012.
Miss.Tic - VIVRE AVEC DES ESPOIRS (2008). Lithography on Paper. 76 x 56 cm.
Some of her works have been acquired by prestigious institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Contemporary Art Fund of the City of Paris, the Ingres Museum, and the MUCEM. Displayed at major contemporary art fairs, Miss-Tic certainly stirred the art world with her work. Her art was influenced by life's realities and inner experiences, aimed at a broad audience, who served as both regular and critical viewers.
Despite her success in the gallery circuit, Miss.Tic remained committed to her roots in street art, continuing to create public works that challenged viewers and provoked thought. Her art became a fixture in the Parisian streetscape, particularly in areas like the Marais and Montmartre, where her stencils adorned walls, doors, and other urban surfaces.
Selena Mattei
