ARTIST STATEMENT
Madeline Penzel’s artistic practice revolves around various fiber techniques with an emphasis on quilting and weaving. Themes of self-expression, childhood, femininity, nostalgia, and Midwestern life are the themes most explored. She often thinks about the difference between city and rural Midwestern life and Midwestern culture, being originally from Southeastern Michigan but moving to Chicago, IL for school. Her work is very hand driven where seeing her own hand in the work is important to herself but also to the viewer.
Penzel’s art practice is based on world building where she creates portals to other dimensions of her own world, transporting viewers to a place of nostalgia. These transformations are done with everyday objects such as quilts, stuffed animals, and wall pieces. She thinks of her art practice as a journey of self-healing while also valuing the finished product, but the process is just as important.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Madeline Penzel (b. 2002) is a fiber artist based in Chicago, IL. Growing up in Michigan, Penzel creates work that shows the similarities and differences between city and suburban Midwestern life. Within this theme, she creates work that investigates her interests she found in childhood (dolls, horses, bright colors, stuffed animals) while combining interests she has found as an adult (shadows, power lines, the mundane everyday object). Each piece she creates acts as a love letter to both places she’s called home as well as her past, present and future self. In May 2025, Penzel graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio, with an emphasis of Fiber and Material Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
© Madeline Penzel