MadArt supports artists in the creation of new works that expand their professional practices in scope and scale, while facilitating public engagement in the arts. We achieve this in our expansive urban studio, remaining free and open to visitors during all stages of exhibition development, and providing opportunities for public audiences to interact with artists and the creative process.
At MadArt Studio, we celebrate site-specificity by encouraging artists to consider and respond to the unique and identifying characteristics of a place, in this case, MadArt and the surrounding neighborhood. This invitation expands from the physical to incorporate the broader societal and cultural threads that create the varied histories and perspectives of where we stand today.
MadArt as an organization and as individuals recognize that the land on which we gather is the ancestral and unceded land of the Coast Salish, specifically the Duwamish people. We acknowledge their history as original stewards of the land and commit to creating programming opportunities that support Indigenous voices and bring awareness to their presence—past, present, and future.
Arts visionary and philanthropist Alison Wyckoff Milliman founded MadArt in 2009. Her vision of facilitating accessible art experiences by supporting artists in creating new works has been a guiding pillar since MadArt’s inaugural show, The Window Art Project. This group exhibition took place in Seattle’s Madison Park neighborhood and involved Milliman garnering the cooperation of shop owners who relinquished their prime storefront windows for art installations. After this show, MadArt’s nomadic programming continued in a variety of public and non-traditional spaces, including houses slated for demolition, a public park, and The University of Washington’s campus. Through these temporary outdoor exhibitions it became clear that not only were public audiences interested in the making aspect of the creative process, but there was a need from artists for studio space in order to build on a larger scale.
This led to a programmatic expansion that resulted in MadArt Studio, a new, site-responsive, installation-based exhibition space in South Lake Union. Situated in an architecturally distinct, 1920s masonry-and-wood building—redesigned by Graham Baba Architects in 2014—the studio offers a collaborative platform for unique, engaging, and immersive art experiences. Participating artists are encouraged to make works that expand their professional practices and they are given the space and support to do so. Each project is temporary and built on-site, starting with an Open Studio period that provides access into artmaking, and culminating in a traditional exhibition. Between (and sometimes during) exhibitions, MadArt Studio also serves as a unique urban event venue, providing a modern space for weddings, corporate events, intimate dinners, and nonprofit fundraisers. Rental proceeds directly support future artists and programming. This allows MadArt to remain free and open to the public during all phases of exhibition construction, demystifying the creative process and giving visitors and artists the opportunity to engage directly with one another amidst the artwork.
Founder
Alison Milliman is an art historian, creative entrepreneur and philanthropist who grew up in Seattle, WA. As a young adult she had the opportunity to travel extensively which fostered her curiosity in the many forms of public art. Alison became a certified antique appraiser, fascinated in both how an object was made, as well as the object’s purpose. She first conceived of MadArt while living abroad in Melbourne, Australia, following a desire to rethink how and where we view art in our communities. She received her BA in Art History from the University of Washington and later studied at Christie’s in London, UK.
Executive Director + Curator
Emily Kelly joined the MadArt team in June 2017, relocating to Seattle from her native Texas. With a background in arts administration and community-based arts education, Emily is interested in the dynamic ways contemporary art can act as a catalyst for community development and social engagement. Having held leadership positions in a variety of arts organizations, ranging from alternative artist run spaces to university art institutions, Emily brings comprehensive experience to her role as MadArt Director + Curator. She has been an active board member of local 501(c)3 Mini Mart City Park since January 2020. She holds an MA in Art Education with a specialized portfolio in Art and Cultural Management and Entrepreneurship from The University of Texas at Austin and a BS in Marketing and Fine Arts from the University of New Orleans.
Studio + Venue Manager
Katie Wood arrived at MadArt in 2014, just in time for the opening of MadArt Studio, along with our Middle Fork and Mad Campus exhibitions. Raised in Sammamish, WA, she received her degree in Cultural Anthropology from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania and her work experience has included a Colorado mountain cafe, a Bellevue tech company, a Seattle circus arts school, and an art consulting firm. When she discovered MadArt, her interest in the arts along with her skills in office management, communications, and event planning made it a perfect fit. She enjoys coordinating the details that keep the studio and venue functioning smoothly, and being able to support both artists and the community by facilitating the creation of new art installations. Outside of the studio, Katie is a self-employed Soma Structural Integration massage practitioner and is passionate about movement, holistic health, nature, the arts, and the ways they all intersect.
Exhibition Coordinator
Lance Milliman joined MadArt in 2020. Born and raised in Seattle, they have been influenced and inspired by the local arts cultivation work of their mother, MadArt founder Alison Milliman. Lance earned their BS from Dickinson College with a focus on Earth Sciences, and is interested in exploring how creative expression can help us understand and relate to our surroundings, and conceptualize our agency here and now. Building on their experience working as a fabricator for Seattle-based artists, Lance sees their role at MadArt as an opportunity to continue supporting creatives in realizing artistic goals. They enjoy this through hands-on fabrication work as well as through the facilitation of exhibition programming to connect with the community.
Gallery Attendant + Preparator
Rey Hauser joined the MadArt team in the Fall of 2021. Originally from Rhode Island, they moved to Washington after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing in 2019. Rey established a foundation in Washington by assisting and learning from local makers and artists throughout multiple disciplines. Entering their role as preparator, they continue to expand their understanding of craft by working alongside artists to assist in their installation processes. While attending the studio, Rey enjoys sharing an appreciation of art and fabrication knowledge with MadArt visitors, building community both in studio and online. Outside of MadArt, Rey is a multidisciplinary artist and jeweler. Their personal practice explores the metaphysical connection within material by understanding making as a ritual for the purpose of intentionally adorning the body.
