"My work is the product of my transformation, an adult’s journey back to my younger self. As a queer kid, I enjoyed color-coordinating my outfits, making jewelry, and writing poetry. At the age of 10, I started my first small business with my best friends, “HML Jewelry”, based on the first letter of our three names. We collected beads and made jewelry that we dreamed of selling in stores, but ended up showcasing in our neighborhood, lemonade stand-style. Younger Madi was mesmerized by artists I encountered, especially those wearing bright colors and body decor. I yearned for the freedom to express myself in such an honest way, which had never been modeled in my family of artists denying their own art. As I grew up, colors faded a bit and I held my creativity less closely, pursuing a career in education.

In 2020, I moved to New York for a new teaching position, yet found myself mesmerized again by the artistry and innovation surrounding me. I rediscovered dreams of becoming an artist myself and made the decision to leave education and make space for a creative life. Through therapy and healing, I learned to trust my inner child, came out as queer, quit my job, started my small business, and began honoring myself as the artist I have always been. At 27, I learned how to play again, using my intuition to guide my next artistic choice. I cut my hair, collected tattoos, began displaying androgynous style, and allowed myself to return to my younger artist self. I left my role as a teacher, to find the role of a student again, learning new artistic skills. I started making jewelry (again), found community in other artists, and designed adornments that express my queer identity and allow others to do the same when they wear my art. Most importantly, I learned to prioritize my inner child’s joy, which is how I found flameworking and created this glass jewelry collection. This necklace is integral to that collection and is a reminder that my artistic journey will always be fluid."