About
Hi, I’m Madison Blair Cohen!
I am a passionate visual artist dedicated to creating art for the betterment of our world. Driven to push boundaries and blur the lines of conformity, I create transformative pieces that spark change and evoke deep emotion. My art spans narrative storytelling — such as capturing the silenced voices of Holocaust survivors through the Witness Project — to exploring the creative interplay between human perspective and nature in plein air.
Trained at the Rhode Island School of Design, most recently at the New York Academy of Art Summer Residency (July 2026 cohort), I am studying plein air and classical art under the mentorship of Mary Valentino-Schneider.
Every June I return to the island of Nantucket, accompanied by resident gallery artists, to render pieces that showcase the island’s natural beauty and iconic gems. With nature as my canvas, I wield my artistic powers to reveal the inner beauty within my subjects — person, place, or thing.
Now, I invite you to follow along my artistic journey and enjoy the collection of quiet, reflective moments featured here.
Away from the easel
When not in the studio, you’ll find me playing the flute and the piccolo. I enjoy the spirit and camaraderie of the Penn Band, mastering new repertoires with the Wind Ensemble, and harmonizing challenging pieces on two instruments with Penn Flutes.
I’m an animal lover and simply adore my goldendoodle, Trevor — feel free to reach out if you’d like a portrait of your furry friend. I also love capturing my favourite people in action, so my camera roll is often duplicated on canvas for safekeeping.
To keep me going strong, I’ll ride at SoulCycle, take long walks (city, beach, boardwalk, nature — anywhere), and unwind with some uplifting music. I’m also a matcha lover and an overall foodie, so I’m always on the move, looking for new places to explore and new items to try. In short, you’ll find me supporting small, local businesses and doing what I can to pay it forward.
At a glance
- Based in
- Philadelphia, PA · Nantucket, MA
- Studying
- BA Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania — Class of 2029, with a minor in Communication Psychology at Wharton
- Working in
- Oil on canvas, collage, charcoal, oil pastel
- Also
- Author of Embracing Each Other , a children’s book