Art Inspired by Nature

The annual Art BFA Exhibition marks a turning point for graduating seniors, an opportunity to present the culmination of their work while celebrating what comes next. For art student Madeline McKinney, ‘26, that moment is grounded in exploration—of materials, process and the natural world that continues to shape her art. 

A mixed-media artist, McKinney’s path to Cornish began with a move from Illinois to Seattle, where her family settled in Ballard. As she searched for art programs in the area, Cornish stood out immediately. 

“Cornish was the first acceptance letter that I really got excited about because it was an all arts school,” she says. “It was somewhere I could fully surround myself with people who are in love with the arts as I am.” 

A transfer student, McKinney spent the past three years developing her work at Cornish, quickly finding a sense of direction and community. Her practice has been shaped in part by her surroundings in the Pacific Northwest. 

“I have always used nature and the Earth as an inspiration for my work,” she says. “But living in Seattle, right by the Sound, being exposed to a new climate, environment and culture, I have been further inspired by nature and the human interaction it endures.” 

The artist. 

That relationship between people and the natural world is central to her BFA work. Initially, McKinney planned to directly address environmental harm, but the process led her to a more material-driven approach. 

“I originally was going to make my work a lot more obviously about human littering and destruction of nature,” she says. “But as I started, I was getting kind of sad about the research and decided to bring that aspect more into the materials in the work than the context of the work.” 

Working primarily with recycled and reused materials, McKinney creates layered, mixed-media pieces that often feature large-scale, vividly rendered animals. Her approach invites viewers to engage closely with each piece. 

“I enjoy being a mixed media artist and my materials and collection of materials are a big part of my process in creating,” she says. 

Through these tactile works, McKinney aims to shift how viewers perceive the natural world. 

“I want to invoke awe and interest in nature and its creatures,” she says. “I want humans to see nature and animals in a fun, curious light—to know they are as conscious as you or me and live beautiful lives outside of our realm of understanding.” 

As she prepares to graduate, McKinney is focused on continuing that sense of curiosity in her practice while expanding into new spaces. 

“I am so excited to explore and develop my art practice further,” she says. “I also want to investigate more public and community arts and art programs. Creating spaces for people in my community would be a fulfilling experience.” 

With a practice rooted in material exploration and an openness to what comes next, McKinney is approaching graduation as another shift in an ongoing process. Her work continues to be guided by curiosity, intention and a willingness to follow where it leads. 

The Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University commencement ceremony is Monday, May 11.