Artist Statement:
I find rich inner worlds within the overlooked forms of daily life. When I sit quietly in the natural landscape or a café and watch the city buzz around me, the patterns, sounds, and creatures begin to reveal themselves, transforming the mundane into complex and intricate ecosystems.

My process begins with instinctive marks on canvas and theoretical research on moral ethics. Abstraction is a foundational element in my work, and with the addition of research and exploration, I examine how the optical realities of natural complexity can be translated into my own material subjectivity. Each painting relies on the layering of material surfaces, as each medium—whether Sumi ink, watercolor, dye, or acrylic—carries a unique tactility and response to movement and flow.

Each piece is layered—while an initial composition may suggest one interpretation, hidden details beneath the surface invite the viewer to uncover deeper meanings. My art meditates the natural world and its overlooked wonders, an attempt to bridge the boundaries between observation, materiality, ethical theory, and imagined realities.

Professional Biography:
Madeleine Sargent is a multifaceted arts professional with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, gallery management, and community engagement. She earned her BA from Wesleyan University with a dual degree in Studio Art and Government. She is a founding member of artconnexDC, a professional network for Women in the Arts. Madeleine has been the Managing Director of Washington Studio School since November 2022, managing the school's operations, fundraising, and finances. In addition, Madeleine oversees WSS’s Gallery Committee and coordinates exhibition logistics with local and visiting artists.

Making art accessible and sharing the arts through public programming is her passion.