Mixed media contemporary artist and sustainable fashion advocate Laura Madden (iamlauramadden.com) shares her story.
Phoenix-based artist Laura Madden
When did you first become interested in art?
I have always been interested in art—I’ve been kind of a creative nerd from a very young age, always with a notepad, sketching faces and fashion and homes. My very first career dream was to be a fashion designer, and my first mural was at age 15 on my bedroom wall, which was not exactly received favorably by my parents! But for me, I felt like a changed girl; that was when I realized that having art on my walls was transformative. As an adult, I wanted to live what felt like a stylish and luxurious lifestyle and be fashionable all the time—in my home, not just in my clothes.
How did this interest develop into a career?
After many years of only making art for my own homes, in 2018, upon moving to Arizona, our new home happened to have a studio on the property. Instinctually, I immediately made it my art studio, but only to fill my plentiful and bare white walls with art that I loved. People would ask: “Why wouldn’t you want to do this professionally? Why not try to sell your art?” In 2019, I simply couldn’t outrun it anymore. I wanted to make art—All. The. Time. I decided to pursue my art professionally and start a business. Refashioned Art was born.
How would you describe your artistic style?
I have always thought of my art as fashion for your walls. I make 2D and 3D abstract modern art that adds a fashionable edge to your walls. My art is made using reclaimed materials and unconventional items, which is my way of merging style and sustainability while helping people create more luxury at home. It’s all about creating that ‘WOW’ factor!
These days, what do you enjoy doing most art-wise?
ReFashioned Art is serious about style, driven by sustainability. Textile waste is a major issue for me, and it is a huge problem on our planet right now. After many years of collecting fabric remnants, I started incorporating them into my art to create sculptural 3D wall art. Seeing unusual, avant-garde and very fashionable art on people’s walls feeds me, and my sculptural series and textile art cover all those bases. At the same time, I hope my work is strengthening the circular economy, reducing waste and conserving resources by using items that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Laura Madden “BeLoved” (2019, mixed media on canvas)
How did your David E. Adler collaboration come about? It was completely serendipitous. I have dreamed of expanding into home apparel, such as luxury rugs, for some time. One day, David E. Adler reached out on my social media and asked if I’d like to collaborate. We set up a meeting to review my art and inspiration for designs, and I really clicked with him and his team. They have been in business here for over 30 years, so they are very selective with whom they work. I feel very grateful to be working with them.
Are there any particular artists that inspire you? Yes! I am an old soul, so I must first mention those who came before me: Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Ellsworth Kelly, Clyfford Still, Louise Nevelson and Gerhard Richter. Here in town, I feel fortunate to have Rotraut, Rick Levinson, Loren Yoda, Nancy Gifford and Peter Deise in my local community and to know most of them personally.
What local galleries and museums do you frequent? This might sound cliché for an artist focused on merging style and sustainability, but nature is my greatest creative catalyst. It’s the patterns and textures ever present here in the skies, forests, hiking trails and even the rock found on the desert floors. Local design is another source to ignite my creative fire, such as Ownby Home, Space Bazaar, Red Modern and London Pierce Home, to name a few. My favorite local galleries that have expanded my mind are de Sarthe, Bentley and Lisa Sette.
“Love is Blind” (2022, mixed media on canvas)
Where can readers see your work? I have local exhibits and installations that I cannot share publicly just yet… stay close, though—many exciting opportunities to see my work are on the horizon. Every November, I am part of the Camelback Studio Tour (camelbackstudiotour.com), which is the biggest show that I host at my home studio. It is a self-guided tour of artist’s studios in and around the Camelback Mountain area.
What are you working on now that readers can look forward to this winter? I am continuing to expand my rug collaboration with David E. Adler, featuring brand-new, never-before-seen designs I have painted. I also have an acrylic block collection, which launches five new designs this month, featuring some of my bestselling prints, and might be the most stylish stocking stuffer you will find. ReFashioned Art will continue to evolve in 2024 as I explore partnerships to expand into additional home apparel categories, such as textiles, wall coverings and tableware. Of course, collaborating with local designers on their epic projects is one of my favorite things to do! Stay tuned!
What do you love most about what you do? There’s something about using unconventional items and reclaimed materials that result in an unrivaled style aesthetic. I love taking things that are discarded and no longer valued and bringing them back into fashion with statement-making artwork. That’s what I consider ‘ReFashioned.’ Art is such a poignant and deeply personal means of self-expression. Similar to my work in fashion, I am in love with the transformative effects of art. Having art on your walls can lift you to a whole other level in your life and how you feel about your life—the fantasy of living a stylish and luxurious lifestyle. It just feels so good to have art that you love on your walls. Helping people choose art helps them identify and express their style—their true selves. It is a huge honor to provide that to people.
Photography by: KAVEN LAKE PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
