Madonna Staunton facts for kids

Madonna Pearl Staunton (born October 6, 1938 – died December 16, 2019) was a talented Australian artist and poet from Brisbane. She is famous for her unique artworks that are part of a style called Australian Modernism.

Her Life and Art Journey

Madonna Staunton was born in Murwillumbah, Australia, on October 6, 1938. She passed away in Brisbane in 2019. Her mother, Madge Staunton, was also an artist and poet, and her father, Albert Errol Staunton, was a book trader. In 1951, her family moved to Brisbane. There, Madonna learned art from her mother and other important artists like Roy Churcher and Jon Molvig.

Madonna Staunton is known for her important work in Australian Modernism, a style of art that explores new ways of seeing and creating. She worked as an artist for over 50 years. Her early artworks were often made from torn pieces of old newsletters and magazines.

Her art was inspired by many things, including poetry, books, music, and the ideas of Buddhism and Zen philosophy. In 1974, due to illness, Madonna changed her art style. She moved from creating large paintings to making collages. In the 1980s, she also became interested in creating sculptures and assemblages, which are artworks made by putting different objects together. She also returned to painting.

Staunton was well-known for her small collages. She used everyday items and scrap materials in her art. These included things like tickets, matchboxes, piano keys, and even parts of old book bindings. She found these items from urban waste and put them together in an abstract way. Her art is seen as very thoughtful and deep, showing her cultural beliefs.

In 1996, Madonna Staunton received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This special award was given to her for her great "service to the visual arts."

In 2012, Madonna Staunton shared her life story and art journey in an interview. This interview is part of the James C Sourris AM Collection at the State Library of Queensland. In it, she talked about her childhood, her health, and how poetry influenced her art. She also spoke about the artists she met and what inspired her to create.

Madonna Staunton died on December 16, 2019. A special service was held to remember her at the University of Queensland Art Museum in Brisbane.

Key Art Exhibitions

Madonna Staunton's artworks were shown in many exhibitions. Some of her most notable individual shows include:

• 2014 - 2015: Madonna Staunton: Out of Clear Blue Sky at the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
• 2003: A special Madonna Staunton retrospective at the IMA, Brisbane.
• 1994: Madonna Staunton A Survey 1966–1993 at the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, and Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville.

Her work was also featured in important group exhibitions, such as:

• 1979: European Dialogues, part of the Biennale of Sydney, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.