WELCOME!


I make art as a way to communicate emotions and experiences that are difficult to talk about out loud. My work often centers on feelings like loneliness, anxiety, and longing. This way, they can be shared without fear! Thank you for taking the time to visit my website and explore my work. I really appreciate it!

About the Artist

Madison Cowles Serna is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores emotions and experiences that are often difficult to articulate, including loneliness, anxiety, longing, and the complexities of personal history. Through painting, drawing, comics, and self-published works, Cowles Serna gives form to internal states, creating visual spaces where vulnerable feelings can be seen and shared without fear.

Their work has been exhibited in galleries and museums internationally, including the McNay Art Museum and the Contemporary at Blue Star in San Antonio, TX. Cowles Serna’s practice spans large-scale installations, intimate ink drawings, and narrative-driven projects that blend visual art and text. Much of their work centers on survivor narratives, memoirs, and surreal representations of the body, time, and emotional aftermath, offering viewers both reflection and connection.

In addition to exhibiting, Cowles Serna is an author and self-publisher of multiple books, zines, and comics, using accessible formats to reach audiences beyond traditional gallery spaces. Their work emphasizes honesty, emotional resonance, and shared experience, inviting viewers and collectors to engage with art as a means of understanding themselves and others more deeply.

I realized what art could do


I’ve always been drawn to art as a way of communicating. Growing up, I was quiet and introverted, and I often struggled to find the right words to say. We moved frequently, and starting over in new places made it difficult to form lasting friendships. Art became a language I could rely on and something I could use to express myself when talking felt overwhelming. Drawing gave me a way to be understood without having to explain everything out loud.

My art became a bridge


Over time, I realized that art helped me connect. Sharing drawings, teaching others how to make something, or talking through a creative process gave me a natural way to relate to people. Those conversations often opened the door to deeper ones. Art became a bridge between small talk and meaningful connection, allowing me to share experiences and emotions that felt difficult to voice directly.

Expression is my passion

Through art, I’ve learned that these experiences are widely shared, even when they’re rarely spoken about. I continue to create and share my work in hopes of offering recognition, connection, and healing. My goal is to give form to emotions that live inside many of us, so they can be seen, shared, and held with care.

PRACTICE & PURPOSE

  • Survivor-Centered Storytelling

    Much of my work is rooted in creating space for survivor voices and emotionally honest storytelling. Through visual art, text-based work, and self-published projects, I aim to honor lived experience and make room for stories that are often silenced or minimized.

  • Accessible & Independent Art Practices

    In addition to exhibiting work in galleries and museums, I prioritize self-publishing and independent distribution as a way to make art more accessible. Books, zines, and prints allow my work to reach people outside traditional art spaces and create connection beyond institutional walls.

  • Education & Creative Community

    Teaching and sharing process have always been central to my practice. I believe in demystifying creative work and fostering connection through learning, whether that’s through mentorship, workshops, published resources, or open conversation around art-making.

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