Madeleine Thornton-Smith

Madeleine Thornton-Smith is an artist, researcher, educator and arts activist from Melbourne. Her practice examines the hierarchy that exists between fine art and craft in relation to class and gender, with a particular interest in subverting meaning through remediation. Employing a slow process of accumulation and repetition, she uses slip-casting to bring together commonplace studio material surfaces and textures with archetypal forms from fine art and ceramics - such as vessels, plinths, frames and canvases. This mimetic process raises questions about the status and value of ceramics, art and craft. She is also interested in exploring memory and nostalgia through casting. She has completed tertiary studies in painting, ceramics, English and languages.

Madeleine has a particular interest in labour issues, particularly in relation to the visual arts and ceramics industries, and has written and presented for various publications and educational, media, union and industry bodies. Madeleine has over a decade’s experience working as a carer and in community arts education and teaches ceramics to young people, children and adults with disability. Madeleine has undertaken several local and international art residencies and has exhibited in various artist-run, private and publicly funded galleries throughout Melbourne.