Madelynn Courtney
Madelynn Courtney
BFA: Graphic Design
Artist Name:
Madelynn Courtney
Work Title:
Until We Meet Again
Medium:
Textiles
Artist Statement:
This series of large quilted portraits is my way of holding onto my Cherokee grandmother and working through the grief of losing her. I piece her image together in fabric the same way memory comes back to me—soft, layered, and sometimes incomplete—and the slow act of stitching helps me sit with that loss. Each quilt includes the words “until we meet again” in Cherokee, reflecting a belief I carry with me: that death isn’t a final ending, but a continuation of connection in another form. Using her language and her image keeps her close, not just as someone I’ve lost, but as someone still present in my life. These quilts aren’t about closure—they’re about love that continues, even in absence.
Artist Bio:
Maddy Courtney is a St. Louis–based graphic designer who blends critical media thinking with visual storytelling to create work that informs, empowers, and makes a lasting impact. Working across mixed media, she builds layered, complex designs that draw from the roots of graphic design while pushing into contemporary conversations. Her practice is grounded in the belief that design should do more than look good—it should move people, challenge perspectives, and create meaningful connection.
Artist Portfolio: