Rosemary Madigan 1926 - 2019

One of Australia’s foremost artists, Rosemary Madigan’s output was enormously varied and versatile. Renowned as a solid form sculptor in wood and stone - both carved and constructed - using the figure as her inspiration, she was equally at home working with clay and wax for bronze, in found objects such as bone, in life drawing, collage, pastel and mixed media works on paper.

Born in Adelaide, she studied in Sydney at the East Sydney Technical College. Upon winning the prestigious NSW Travelling Art Scholarship, she spent several years in Europe and India. Returning to Adelaide she continued working while bringing up three daughters, and established a pottery studio Bindara. After moving to Sydney in 1972 she exhibited regularly, while teaching life drawing at East Sydney Technical College. She is represented in major Australian and International public and private collections.

This website is authorised by the estate of Rosemary Madigan. It holds a collection of information and background on her life and work. The extensive photo gallery is designed to give an overview of the broad spectrum of her work. It is by no means exhaustive, and will be added to on a continuous basis. Please contact us if you have any additional photos or information.

“…an independent thinker who has not felt the pressure to conform to mainstream preoccupations or aspirations.”

— Deborah Edwards, Torso 1954 and Torso 1986, 2011.