Today we’d like to introduce you to Sooltan Madsen
Hi Sooltan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been painting my whole life – though I didn’t start taking it seriously until 2018, when I first started exhibiting, receiving commissions, and I started my professional academic journey that same year. I attended the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2018-2022 and received my BFA in Painting. Around halfway through my degree I found my artistic passion in Queer Portraiture. As a member of the LGBT community – originally from a very conservative state (Idaho), I found my joy in making the work I wish I would’ve been able to see growing up. At the end of my degree I had a solo exhibition of my thesis work ‘WANTED’ which was my queer experience of the west. Shortly afterwards I attended my first artist residency at Watershed Studios in Galway, Ireland, where I spent the summer. When I returned to savannah, my partner and I made the decision it was time to make our way and seek our next steps in our career and we moved to Minneapolis in the fall of 2022.
Since then I have created my current body of work ‘Interlude’ which is a love letter to queer joy. The work will be one display in Santa Ana, California at She/They Gallery from April 5th-April 23rd of this year. More information on the show and the work can be found at https://www.sooltanmadseninterlude.com/
I also after moving to Minnesota join several groups, notably NEMAA in 2023 & this past past year Umbra artist collective, where my work can be seen Tues-Sat 12pm-8pm, & Sun 12pm-6pm at 710 W Lake St.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road necessarily – I’ve done a lot to find my own way.
I stumbled through a creative rut when we first moved to Minnesota – I felt out of sort trying to decide where my work would go until I found inspiration through ‘Interlude’. Though I have found one of the largest obstacles has been finding my market in Minnesota, considering what I do definitely falls into the category of niche. I think a lot of people assume that because I lived in the south for as many years as I did that I struggled more there, but I love the south – I found my family there, and I had a wonderful market for queer art, and so It will always hold a place of love in my heart. However I think no matter where we moved I would have felt a little bit of push as I struggled to find my footing and my place. I had never lived in the Midwest before 2022, let alone a city as big as Minneapolis, and there was definite culture shock that definitely bled into my artistic career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in queer portraiture and narrative oil paintings. Though I take a wide range of commissions, from family portraits, to album art, and custom engravings. I do find the most pleasure and joy in painting my community. I’d say my series ‘WANTED’ which was primarily a depiction of queer cowgirls is definitely my most identifiable work – though as my current series ‘Interlude’ is coming to a close – I find myself thinking on what I’ll make next and I definitely have some exciting ideas brewing. I don’t know if I can name a specific piece I am most proud of but I would definitely love to be known one day as an exemplary queer representational painter. I think making my way into the (art) history books for representation with love my community would definitely make me quite happy.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Only to sign up for my mailing list on my website, and to follow me on instagram – as I definitely have some exciting ideas brewing that I can’t wait to share, and I’m so thrilled to share through social media and the show website more information from my solo show next month at She/They Gallery.
Also my commissions are currently open – if you’re interested in commission work please feel free to fill out the contact form on my website and let me know what you’re looking to have done!
Pricing:
- 16×20″ pieces $500-$750
- 24×36″ pieces $800-$1000
- 36×48″ $1800-$2000
- 36×60″ $2500
- small works $100-$375
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sooltanmadsen.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sooltanmadsen/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.sooltanmadseninterlude.com/ and https://umbra-arts.com/
