Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Madden.
Ann, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started a gallery in my town, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi with my neighbor friend, silversmith Sandy Maggio on a moment’s notice and had to turn a profit. It was called Smith & Lens and it was home to our work and featured a different, visiting artist each month. I am a photographer for hire and was shooting fine art in my time outside of the gallery and client work and was handed an opportunity to create a habitat for another artist friend’s sculptural creatures for a show at the Ohr O’Keefe museum in Biloxi. This meant getting out of the digital world and getting my hands dirty. I had not realized how much I had missed making things with my hands. I haven’t stopped. Now I combine my photos, found photos, found objects, paper, paint, pencil, pastel, whatever into new, mixed media pieces that I sell in galleries and online.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Fine Art Photography is a hard sell. At least it was for me. We showed multiple photographers at Smith & Lens and the energy was great, the sales were weak. For me it has always been peaks and valleys with my work. The only way around is through. But ultimately, creating what makes me happy is always my best bet. For client work, the goal is to get to a place where both of us are happy. There can be tons of back and forth and there can also be a mind meld. You just never know.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer and mixed media artist. I also do graphic design and I had a gallery for 6 years. My degree is in Art History and I have a Masters in Digital Art. I think I’m known for my portraiture, my mixed media pieces and my use of color in those pieces. Nothing gets me as excited as a captured, authentic, beautiful moment. I don’t care about smiles, but obviously I want my clients to like how they look in my photos. I think my combo of photography with mixed media sets me apart. Of course, it’s incredibly important that the photograph can also stand on its own but it’s super fun to create a new narrative for an existing photo.
Any big plans?
After begging the universe for some clarity, I have adopted a daily practice of waking up before dawn and going into my studio with tea, coffee and collage materials and creating a piece each morning. It’s got me so jazzed. Pretty much bouncing out of bed each morning. I’m going to ride this wave as long as I can and see what bubbles up. I’ve got a list of potential series and project ideas that I keep in my phone. I have three super fun shows I’m curating next year at the Gail Keenan Art Center at Coast Episcopal School in Long Beach, MS. I’m always looking for my next happy adventure and am wide open to collaboration. Get in touch!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.annmaddenphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annmaddenphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annmaddenphoto/
