Bio
Madeline Steimle is a southern Illinois based artist working in glass and illustration. In 2013 she earned a BFA in studio art with a focus in glass at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. During and after college she took opportunities to travel for classes and workshops across the US and an artist’s residency in Bergen, Norway. After college and a brief stint living in Indianapolis, Madeline returned to her hometown where she has slowly been converting an old garage into a studio.
Working with many different media over the years, Madeline is always drawn back to glass and illustration. Recently her work has been inspired by the beauty of local landscapes, rural small-town decay, and animals as allegory
Working with many different media over the years, Madeline is always drawn back to glass and illustration. Recently her work has been inspired by the beauty of local landscapes, rural small-town decay, and animals as allegory
Artist's Statement
I have always felt a deep connection to place. The landscape of southern Illinois has been the primary inspiration for my work over the last few years. It’s a beautiful area with rocky bluffs, muddy rivers, and rich forests. There is some hostility in its beauty. Poison ivy, thorny scrub, and venomous snakes demand careful steps. Within this landscape I’m drawn to animals with strange adaptations and the play between resilience and vulnerability. My most recent work uses these animals as allegories for human experiences dealing with disruption and upheaval.
