Biography madge staunton

Madonna Staunton OAM collection

Date

[between 1890 and 2019?, bulk 1950-2019?]

Abstract

This large collection contains material that sheds light on the life and art practices of Queensland artist Madonna Staunton OAM. The collection also includes a small amount of material related to Madge Staunton, Madonna's mother, an artist and award winning poet.

Scope and content

The bulk of the collection is about Madonna Staunton OAM.

System of arrangement

Arranged into 20 series.

Description

Administrative / Biographical history

Madonna Pearle Staunton OAM was an artist and poet. Madonna was born in 1938 in Murwillumbah, N.S.W., to parents Madge and Albert Errol Staunton. In 1940 the family moved to Sydney briefly before returning to Brisbane in 1952. Madonna attended art classes from 1965-1967 with Bronwyn Thomas receiving occasional tuition from Jon Molvig, Nevil Matthews and Roy Churcher. Madonna began her career painting lyrical abstract paintings and started exhibiting her work in 1956. Ill health led her to abandon painting in the mid-1970s. She concentrated instead on collage, assemblage and related media for which she became known, using everyday items, or parts of them, in her work, such as safety pins, tickets and postcards. Madonna returned to painting later in life. Madonna has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions at a wide range of galleries throughout Australia and occasionally overseas for over 5 decades. Her work is held in several major public and private collections. (Information taken from: Madge Staunton, autobiography, item 73 of the collection guide, Milani gallery website, viewed 30 September 2021; Queensland University of Technology, Madonna Staunton : a survey 1966 - 1993)

Access restrictions

Copyright status

Multiple copyright statuses. Please refer to the Collection Guide for copyright status of individual items.

Preferred citation

32235, Madonna Staunton collection, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

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