Madeleine Thornton-Smith — 'French Baroque wall texture frame with small Portuguese hand-painted azulejo (tile)' Ceramic Artwork (2024)

This ceramic work, French Baroque wall texture frame with small Portuguese hand-painted azulejo (tile), reimagines the frame not as a boundary, but as a space for experimentation and creative possibility.

Created by Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Madeleine Thornton-Smith, this ceramic work is part of Salon Hang, a vitrine exhibition showcasing eight female and non-binary artists who challenge the traditional role of the frame in Western art. 

—

Madeleine Thornton-Smith is a formally trained painter and ceramic artist from Melbourne. Her practice examines the hierarchy that exists between fine art and craft in relation to class and gender. As well as regularly exhibiting, Madeleine is heavily involved in arts advocacy and community work, and various writing, educational and curatorial projects.

Madeleine is currently studying a Master of Fine Art by Research at RMIT investigating the politics of gender and labour in art and craft, with particular focus on the ceramics sector. 

—

Salon Hang

Vitrine

June 19 - July 26, 2025 

Salon Hang brings together eight female and non-binary artists who challenge the traditional role of the frame in Western art. Working across a range of craft practices, each artist has reimagined the frame, not as a boundary, but as a space for experimentation and creative possibility.

As well as somewhere to display paintings, the “salon” was a place where women came together to educate themselves. Salon Hang aims to connect women from various artistic backgrounds, using the frame and craftwork as symbols for collective solidarity.

Georgia Anson, Ruby Brown, Lauren Cameron, Georgina Proud, Samantha Seary, Madeleine Thornton-Smith, Kate Tucker and Jasminka Ward-Matievic

Curated by Madeleine Thorton-Smith

Learn more here

—

Material: hand-pressed and handbuilt earthenware, glaze, Portuguese tintas (self-standing frame with removable tile)

Dimensions: Approx. 20 x 19 x 7 cm

Please note when purchasing, exhibition works are to be collected when exhibition closes.