IN SIDER PROFILE Mixed media contemporary artist and sustainable fashion advocate Laura Madden (iamlauramadden. com) shares her story. BY LAURA ECKSTEIN JONES SECOND LIFE When did you fi rst become interested in art? I have always been interested in art—I’ve been kind of a creative nerd from a very young age, always with a notepad, sketching faces and fashion and homes. My very fi rst career dream was to be a fashion designer, and my fi rst mural was at age 15 on my bedroom wall, which was not exactly received favorably by my parents! But for me, I felt like a changed girl; that was when I realized that having art on my walls was transformative. As an adult, I wanted to live what felt like a stylish and luxurious lifestyle and be fashionable all the time—in my home, not just in my clothes. How did this interest develop into a career? Aft er many years of only making art for my own homes, in 2018, upon moving to Arizona, our new home happened to have a studio on the property. Instinctually, I immediately made it my art studio, but only to fi ll my plentiful and bare white walls with art that I loved. People would ask: “Why wouldn’t you want to do this professionally? Why not try to sell your art?” In 2019, I simply couldn’t outrun it anymore. I wanted to make art—All. Th e. Time. I decided to pursue my art professionally and start a business. Refashioned Art was born. CONTINUED… PHOTO BY KAVEN LAKE PHOTOGRAPHY Phoenix-based artist Laura Madden 65 MODER N LU X U RY
SCOT December 2023: Page 65
