Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Foss
Hi Maddie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first became serious about art when I found out about an art boarding school in my state. I liked art and saw it as a way to get out of the town I didn’t fit into. After graduating from that high school, I continued pursing art and psychology in college. I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take so I took a gap year inbetween undergraduate and graduate school where I began doing art markets. Once in graduate school to get my Master’s of Fine Arts and continuing to do art markets, I finally began to take my art seriously as a career and started hardcore networking. I contribute all of my success to my friends and loved ones that I’ve met along the way during this long journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any creative career, one of the hardest things to deal with is the constant rejection and failure. Whether a piece didn’t turn out the way I wanted or I didn’t get into the show I was excited about, rejection hurts. I still get up set sometimes but it has gotten a lot easiest dealing with rejection as I continue to apply to things and realize there are so many reasons for rejection that might not be because of my artwork not being good enough. Along with external failure, I am always dealing with imposter syndrome. I’ve reinvented myself time and time again to better fit my personality and what I want people to get out of my art. While this has become a critical part of my practice, it’s an easy way for self doubt to creep in. I am still figuring out the best ways of dealing with imposter syndrome, but having conversations with other creatives help so much. As artists, we are our the creators, marketers, editors, and more. We can’t possibly be good at everything and we all have self doubt along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is a journey of questioning the origins of selfhood while simultaneously trying to understand identity concerning the physical world and online landscapes that influence me. It is through the navigation of these worlds that my selfhood collides with consumerism, tradition, and rituals that draws me to question power dynamics and structures.
I am an interdisciplinary artist who works predominantly in digital drawing, installation, and craft. From there, I make stickers and prints of my work to sell at an affordable price. My artistic practice is heavily inspired by research. My art is rooted in gender and queer studies, social sciences, along with media studies. While this all sounds very serious (and can be), most of my work is very humorous and lighthearted. I get most inspiration from my pet rats, spending too much time on TikTok, and being a thought daughter.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Everyone in the creative field is just an artist trying to figure things out. While some may have more experience, we are still a group of people constantly trying new things, experimenting, and often failing. Be confident in yourself and your work. Apply to as many opportunities as you can and never underestimate yourself, no matter how easy it is to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maddiemonstera.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddie.monstera/profilecard/?igsh=YzNodnpua2NwYzMz
