Madeleine’s quirky and unique images display rich decorative line and bold patterns in her distinctive free-hand style. Reoccurring themes such as birds, dream snippets, daily rituals, life versus death, staring faces, skeletons, beasts, angels & devils, dogs, poultry and gingerbread style homes embellished with plenty of nature’s goodness possess a strange kind of beauty.

Many of her designs comprise of gentle yet slightly surreal imagery that delivers an edgy punch. Her metaphoric style echoes imagery found in Mexican folklore such as The Day of the Dead. In the mid 80’s Madeleine was involved in the emerging Melbourne underground graffiti and street art scene. She has continued to be driven by the street art movement which she notes as having a huge influence on her art. Her influences include natural history and past and present legends such as Lady Pink, Mirka Mora and Niki de Saint Phalle.

Born in 1972 to Jan and Ralph Seidel, the youngest of five, Madeleine had an idealistic childhood. Her parents always supported and encouraged her artistic inclinations since day dot - no ifs, buts or maybes. Forever fascinated with the natural world, she grew up amongst a menagerie of animals, family, good music, great cooking and a large leafy backyard for daydreaming and collecting bits and bobs in. She loathed having to study and going to school all through her formative years, yet ironically now considers herself privileged to work in the education system as an art specialist.

Madeleine graduated in 1994 having obtained a degree in Architectural Ceramics at Monash University, Caulfield. She gained her Teaching degree (primary & secondary) in 2001 at Deakin University, Burwood and began a Masters of Fine Arts degree at Monash, Caulfield. Madeleine originally dedicated herself to ceramics, concrete sculpture and mosaics which she sold through the likes of The Artist Garden, Fitzroy and Art Infusion, Prahran from the early 90’s through to 2000. More recently, Madeleine focuses on her painting, freelance illustration, works on paper and other commissioned projects through her business Little Circus Design.

Throughout the years, Madeleine has participated in numerous group shows and solo exhibitions. She has had many public and private mosaics and murals specially commissioned; she has collaborated with many artists on both small and large-scale projects and partaken in artist in residencies. Recently her art was commissioned by The National Gallery of Victoria and was also chosen to feature on and throughout The Blackeyed Susans Retrospective album.

 
academic qualifications

Master of Fine Arts, Monash University 2001-2003 (withdrawal in good standing)
Bachelor of Education (Primary & Secondary) Deakin University 1999-2001
Bachelor of Arts, Monash University 1991-1994


selected exhibitions

MAY 2009     Bob Boutique Gallery, Bendigo BIRDSVILLE (Solo Show)
FEB 2009     Outre Gallery, Melbourne Art Fights Fire fundraiser
FEB 2009     Famous When Dead Gallery, Melbourne Portrait Show
MAY 2008     China Heights, Sydney ‘THEY HEART SKATEBOARD ART’ (Group Show)
JUNE 2008     Thomo & Coach, Melbourne ‘THEY HEART SKATEBOARD ART’ (Group Show)
APRIL 2008     Art Melbourne 08’, Melbourne Exhibition Building, Selected for Off The Wall
DEC 2007     Carlton Hotel Gallery, Melbourne, Jacky Winter Group Launch Show
JULY 2004     Greenhouse Gallery, Monash University, Masters Showcase
MAY 2003     TOORAK VILLAGE SCULPTURE FESTIVAL
DEC 1998     ARTIST GARDEN, Melbourne, WATER IN THE GARDEN GROUP SHOW
NOV 1998     GALLERY RANFURLIE, Melbourne, (GROUP SHOW)
JUNE 1998     ARTIST GARDEN, Melbourne, MIXED MOSAICS
OCT 1996     ART INFUSION, Melbourne, CRACKED DOESN’T MEAN BROKEN! (solo show)
SEPT 1995     ARTIST GARDEN, Melbourne, MOSAIC 95
AUG 1995     ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING, Melbourne, Art in Action exhibitor
DEC 1994     WESTPAC GALLERY, Melbourne, WALKER CERAMICS AWARD COMPETITION
NOV 1994     MEAT MARKET CRAFT CENTRE, MONASH UNIVERSITY GRADUATION SHOW


representations

The Jacky Winter Group
Lamington Drive Gallery, Melbourne
Gallery 360, Western Australia
Modamuse, Australia

selected private and public collections

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA
ROYAL CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE
CITY OF STONNINGTON, MELBOURNE
THE BLACKEYED SUSANS
KOROWA ANGLICAN GIRLS SCHOOL, MELBOURNE
ST MICHAELS GRAMMAR SCHOOL, MELBOURNE
ST JAMES SCHOOL, BRIGHTON, MELBOURNE

commercial clients

Copeland Publishing, Herman Miller, Meredith Music Festival, Notebook Magazine, Oxford University Press, The Australian Financial Review, The Australian Readers Digest, The Blackeyed Susans, The National Gallery of Victoria.