Meet Keith Maddy | Visual Artist, Collage

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keith Maddy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keith, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Time with dear friends and family is an invaluable happiness for me in feeling unconditional love and connection… sharing a history, be it long or short, talking and telling stories, laughing together, eating together, crying together, holding one another literally and figuratively but then… also being alone with myself, to recharge, rest and just be. Key is having the balance of both.

Nature makes me very happy… watching (in real life or on tv), learning and being absolutely amazed by ANIMALS, all animals, from insects to whales, their presence, beauty, behaviors and joy.

The BEACH as a respite to recharge, rejuvinate and rest. I am always in awe and celebrate the omnipotent power, presence, beauty, ever changing colors and sounds of the water and the joy of being submerged in it, moving thru it and feeling as I am part of it. The bright, warm celestial sun, blue sky and variations of cloud formations. The color and juicy flavor of a bite of fresh fruit, plovers running up and down the shore line like wind ups and terns dive bombing into the ocean for a bite. Colorful and fanciful kites flying high, darting up and down, soaring still.

Movies make me happy even when they are violent or sad. Being taken away from reality, even moreso in a large, dark theater. Story telling. Imagination. Magic. Amazing visuals, some so very subtle, be they special affects, editing, lighting, etc…

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art involves the meticulous hand-cutting of images (children, animals, flowers, objects) from vintage children’s books (both the outline and the inner space) and re-composing and re-contextualizing them in new alternative landscapes creating joyful and widely imaginative works where scale and context are out of whack yet fit perfectly together. Coloring books were a sanctuary for me as a child, a place of unfettered imagination where play, adventure and the joy of coloring and mark making were intertwined. As an adult and artist, I am drawn back to these pages to explore working with not only the physicality and era of the paper and illustrations’ line and color, but also their narrative and frequent gender messaging….a place where boy’s masculinity was reinforced (cowboys, astronauts, firemen) as well as girls’ femininity (ballerina, mom, dresses).

I believe what really sets my work apart from others is that it IS totally different and takes collage to a whole new level, blurring the line with drawing. It is delightfully engaging, immediately drawing people in to something familiar yet foreign, with viewers often befuddled by the process even when explained.

My work is a bit of an outlier and I am most proud of having my work recognized by my peers in a 2022 Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and a 2017 grant from the Artist’s Resource Trust, both significant awards. I am also quite proud of myself for the commitment, pursuit and honing of my artistic voice.

I don’t think it’s ever easy for any artist to get to a level of professional recognition, whatever that may be. Common obstacles of money, space, time, competition, rejection letters, expectations, distractions, excuses and nay-saying voices, be it your own or others, are quite the maze to navigate. It is a constant commitment, belief and pursuit of one self, that inner creative voice and vision, whims and curiosities, that are vital to overcome these hurdles. I’ve had many jobs to help pay for my artistic pursuit and for the last 13 years I have been a practicing massage therapist, which has given me the greatest amount of freedom, time & money, to be in my studio.

I don’t meditate, but feel it is important to take good care of oneself, physically, mentally and spiritually, to eat and sleep well, to have the strength to overcome these obstacles. The next best place for me outside of the studio, to reset and for inner strength is in nature… beach, woods, walking, swimming, resting. Along the way, I’ve learned to be patient, calm, grateful and persistent.

I would love the world to know the JOY and exuberance that I feel in creating my art…. the excitement of finding new materials, the endless hours of cutting, interacting and composing as well as sharing it online, in galleries and in workshops.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I grew up 1/2 hour south of Boston and have always loved exploring it. It is a beautiful and historic city with so much to see and do it really is hard to create an imaginary itinerary not knowing the tastes of my guest, time of year and scheduled events in the city. I love to walk and Boston is very walkable! One of my favorite spots is the Christian Science Plaza, a 13.5 acre concrete landscape that started in 1894 with the original Mother Church and was developed over the years, In the late 1960’s, Sasaki collaborated with Araldo Cossutta and I.M. Pei & Partners to create this spacious plaza, the first modernist landscape designated as a Boston landmark consisting of a central 675 foot reflecting pool and 3 amazing concrete buildings melding brutalist and classical design. It is rare for a city to have this kind of open space and architecture. Also at this site is the MAPARIUM where you can walk thru the center of a one of a kind, 3 story stained glass globe designed in 1935 as the world was then. Amazing.
Back Bay’s Copley Sq. w/the historic Trinity Church built in 1877 by Henry Hobson Richardson is located as well as Boston Public Library built in 1895, a true gem with treasures to be seen inside including John Singer Sargeant’s murals and the Newsfeed Cafe w/live local broadcasting sessions. On over to the Commonwealth mall and head downtown along the lovely pedestrian park running between the opposing Commonweatlh Avenues and spotted with historical figures in sculpture and historic buildings/homes on either side. Stroll on thru the Public Garden (1837) where the swan boats reside and continue on to Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States with lots of historical plaques, statues and structures to see including the 2022 bronze sculpture commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, THE EMBRACE, by Hank Willis Thomas. The massive sculpture depicts four intertwined arms representing the hug they shared after he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Onward and up to Boston City Hall Plaza and it’s love it or hate it 1969 massive Brutalist City Hall. I love it. Over to and thru historic Faneuil Hall with it’s long galley of a food court and if the weather is nice, buskers. Cr0ss over Rose Kennedy Garden, previously the elevated highway, with a peek at the Aquarium’s funky building and possible go in for a visit then on and up to the historic North End, part of the Freedom Trail, it’s narrow streets, Paul Revere House, historic churches, cramped living and fantastic Italian pastry shops… my favorite, off the main drag, BOVA open 24/7,

Not too much further to Charlestown and The Bunker Hill Monument erected at the site of the Battle of Bunker Hill which was among the first major battles between the Red Coats and Patriots in the American Revolutionary War. The 221-foot (67 m) granite obelisk was erected between 1825 and 1843 with 294 steps to the top.

Phew, all this walking and so many great cafes and restaurants along the way to stop for a snack, coffee, lunch or dinner!

Seriously, I could go on and an on…
-A day of great art at the MFA, Isabella Stewart Gardener and the ICA would be great and all have lovely cafes.
-The newly opened viewing deck at the top of the Prudential Center with a magnificent 360 degree view of Boston, the harbor and surrounds.
-Whale watch!
-Theater, music, comedy abundant
-For those with limited mobility there’s double decker bus tours, duck boat tours, themed tours (haunted Boston) and Freedom Trail trolley with get off and on for one price all day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many friends that have inspired me, shown me love, encouragement, advise and support over the years it is very difficult to single one out but the first person who came to mind is my mother. I have always said that I would not be the man I am today if it were not for her unconditional love and support. I choose to dedicate my shoutout to her, Joan Maddy. I was her last child of seven, the 5th boy and the most sensitive and creative one by far. She protected, encouraged and supported any & all creative whims I had as early as I can remember and right up to her passing in 2020 at the age of 86… taking me to Saturday morning drawing classes as a child, swim classes, listening to me practice clarinet from age 9-12, not judging my embracing of New Wave music & attire and support of my love of acting in community theater, high school my first years of college and then being my biggest fan as I began to evolve as a visual artist.. Without those early years of support I do not believe I would have had the courage to pursue what my heart desired, taking risks and becoming the creative man I am today.

Website: www.keithmaddyart.com

Instagram: keithmaddyart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keith.maddy.3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1lLGBDPsQA

Other: https://www.facebook.com/keithmaddyART/

Image Credits
Stewart Clements Julia Featheringill Davis Advertising