Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Cady.
Hi Maddie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Honestly, I think I was doomed, in the best way, to be an artist from the start. I was that kid who spent way too much time on Kid Pix, meticulously choosing WordArt styles, and turning PowerPoints into mini design masterpieces before I even knew what graphic design was. If there was a dance class, an art program, or anything remotely creative after school, I was in it. That was just my world.
In high school, I got really into photography and thankfully my school had a solid program. That’s where I first met Photoshop and immediately went from “curious teen” to “obsessed creator.” My photography teacher saw where I was headed and gently pushed me toward graphic design, saying I’d have more fun there. Turns out, he was 100% right.
I ended up at UT Arlington, fully diving into design. I learned a ton from the courses, but also from being part of the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) student group and dabbling in local music show promotion like designing gig posters, branding events, all the fun stuff. I even tried to organize a campus-wide art market and music showcase (we had everything ready, the graphics, banners, vendors… then COVID hit, because, of course it did).
After graduating in 2021 and spending some time in the corporate design world, I felt the pull to return to my own creative roots. I started building up Muse Maddie Design, my personal brand, and getting involved in local art and music markets again. I’ve been making and selling bleached shirts, punk bags, bracelets, prints, paintings, stickers, and exploring tattoo designs, which feels like a natural extension of everything I love: art that’s personal, expressive, and a little chaotic.
Looking back, every step from Kid Pix to Photoshop to punk merch feels connected. Doing this on my own terms has helped me reconnect with why I started creating in the first place. It’s not just about making things look good, it’s about enjoying the process and making space for weird, bold, beautiful ideas, especially when the world feels a little off.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Eh, yes and no. I’ve always known I wanted to do something with art, but like most things in life, the road to getting there has had its fair share of weird turns.
Without diving too deep into the HBO doc version of my life, I did grow up in what I later realized was a religious cult. At the time, it just felt like “church, but intense.” My family wasn’t as deep in as some, and I don’t hold any resentment about it. My parents grew up in it too, so it was just part of a generational cycle that none of us really questioned until much later. We’ve all moved forward in our own ways, and I’m really close with my family now. My mom, my sister, and I do a lot together, and I’m grateful we’ve all landed in a place of honesty, humor, and healing.
That said, the whole fear/guilt doctrine definitely left its mark on my mental health. It took a long time to untangle what I actually believed and what had just been programmed into me. I’d say the struggle wasn’t just leaving that environment, it was unlearning the idea that creativity had to be “safe,” “approved,” or palatable. Once I shook that off, it felt like I could finally just… be. And design, and create, and live without a committee of invisible judges in my head.
So, smooth? Not exactly. But weirdly beautiful? Definitely. And honestly, the bumps along the way have shaped how I approach my art, with a little rebellion, a lot of self-reflection, and a deep appreciation for the freedom to make things that feel like me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Now that I’ve got a better sense of who I am and what I want to create, my work has been naturally pivoting toward what I’d call grunge cathedral vibes, a mix of dark romanticism, cyber-sigilism chaos, and an “if you know, you know” sense of humor. I aim to create designs that are a little moody, a little sarcastic, and deeply personal. Whether it’s branding, prints, paintings, or punk merch, my goal is to make work that feels real and resonates with the alternative outcasts, the punks, the emotionally expressive, and always, always for the girls, gays, and goths.
Lately, I’ve been diving headfirst into tattooing (my 5-9 after my 9-5) and it’s been the most creatively fulfilling thing I’ve done in years. I’m self-taught and still early in the journey, so the amount of people who’ve reached out already asking to get a tattoo from me? Absolutely wild. I’ll never take that kind of trust for granted. While I’m proud of the progress I’ve made on my own so far, I’d still absolutely love to find the right apprenticeship one day. Somewhere I can grow my skillset, learn from people I admire, and continue building a tattoo practice that feels as intentional and honest as the rest of my work. Tattooing feels like this beautiful mix of technical skill, artistic expression, and deep human connection, something I’m really hoping to grow into full time.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always love graphic design. It’s the foundation of everything I do. But let’s be honest: the field has shifted. Between endless, cookie-cutter templates and the rise of AI tools, it’s starting to feel a little… soulless. I read this quote once that tattooed itself onto my frontal lobe that went something like, “I don’t want AI to make my art, I want it to do my damn dishes and laundry.” Couldn’t relate more.
What I’m most proud of, though, is that my work stays real. People connect with it because it feels human, it’s not trying too hard to be polished or perfect. It reflects real feelings, real chaos, real humor. I think that’s what sets me apart. I’m not here to be a factory for trend-chasing aesthetics. I’m here to make things that resonate with the weird, the bold, and the ones who see beauty in the strange.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honestly? Being uncomfortably self-aware. I’ve always had this instinct to analyze everything like my work, my emotions, and my creative burnout cycles. That kind of awareness has helped me grow, not just as an artist, but as a person. I know when something’s working because it actually hits, not just looks good. And I definitely know when I’m phoning it in (my inner critic has a megaphone).
That said, it took me a long time to realize that my ability to lean into emotional honesty, sarcastic, tender, dark, and chaotic vibes wasn’t something to hide or tone down. I grew up in an environment where certain feelings were dismissed or moralized, so I spent a lot of time second-guessing what I was allowed to express. Now, I see that showing up as my full, imperfect self is actually what gives my work its soul. Whether it’s a punk postcard, a branding project, or a tattoo flash design, I want it to feel real like something made for someone who’s been through it and gets it.
So yeah, design skills matter. But in my experience, the real magic happens when you’re not just creating something pretty, you’re creating something true.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.musemaddie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musemaddie.design
Image Credits
Parking garage photos: Ariel Bender
