Bio

Madelyn Stafford was born in Fairfax, Virginia in 1999. She gained an appreciation for art at the age of four. After breaking many dollar store crayons, Madelyn's parents eventually signed her up for weekly art classes at Mrs. Meade’s Art Studio in Chantilly, Virginia, where she learned mediums ranging from pen to pastel, to watercolor. It wasn’t until Madelyn started taking art classes at Flint Hill High School that she developed high respect and interest in abstract art and color. It was at this point that art transformed from a pastime to a passion. Instead of focusing on accurately recreating an image, her art started to have more meaning.

Madelyn began creating art using oils, Japanese water paper, and anything at her disposal to make mixed-media abstract pieces that invite viewers to engage with them on multiple levels. She releases her emotions more freely with abstract art, the form allows Madelyn to just be. Like a scientist, she can experiment by mixing media and materials, testing her comfortability with her practice, and producing striking pieces. Madelyn's time at Flint Hill made her fall in love not just with abstract art, but with composition and color as well. Her experience at Flint Hill, learning under Cianne Fragione, propelled Madelyn to a BFA in Studio Art from New York University.

When Madelyn was younger there were many reasons she wasn’t confident. One of them was that she wasn’t seen as pretty because she was black; something that was very hard for her to overcome. As Madelyn started her self-love journey, she began to make art about confidence, specifically a person that has grown into a more confident version of themselves. Madelyn later became confident in her physical looks and subsequently her practice. That, along with feeling sexy and wanting to get better at painting bodies and the human form, influenced Madelyn to paint herself naked…a lot. What began as studies became nearly the center of her practice. Madelyn was starting to think about herself which is shown and immortalized through her art. Madelyn's pieces have become increasingly less timid. Her pieces demand attention. The more connection and love she feels for herself the more shows through in her art.

Madelyn's work is about herself and where she can be completely selfish. Her work is based on her perspective. As Madelyn works to learn about her intrinsic value, she realized that other people have this issue, and hope that through her learning and her art people can see their own value. Madelyn wants other people to feel valuable and worthy and hopes that her art can help facilitate that and help them feel powerful. Her art is deeply personal and introspective, and she encourages viewers to bring their own experiences and emotions to their interpretation of her work. She believes that art should be a dialogue between the artist and the viewer, with each participant contributing to a shared understanding of the piece. Madelyn continues to create art that celebrates the beauty and complexity of the human experience. Her work is a testament to the power of art to evoke emotion, inspire reflection, and bring people together in a shared appreciation of the world around us.