About
Apple and Thistle Press was started during the early days of the pandemic - something to kill the time while I was stuck at home and unable to go to work (believe it or not, I was a zipline guide!).
What started as a hobby has since grown into my full-time business. My cats - the titular Apple and Thistle - have provided me endless inspiration for prints since day one (I like to joke that they earn their kibble). My work also heavily features the great outdoors - all based off of photos I’ve taken myself - and I also find particular joy in taking song lyrics I love and interpreting them visually. There are a couple of ongoing series that I’m always coming back to, including my Fish People series and Ghosts. I am currently trying to challenge myself and grow as a printmaker by working on more reduction and multi-layer prints in general (it is a PROCESS, but boy is it fun!).
Me - The Artist
Hi there! My name is Mady, and I am so very excited that you are here checking out my website. At my very first art fair, I was completely unprepared for the number of times I would be asked, “Are you the artist?” and the pleasure I would get from getting to answer, “I am!!” Quite a bit of time has passed since I started selling my work, but I still love getting to answer this question.
My medium is linocut printmaking, but I love trying out different creative mediums and outlets whenever I get the chance (stained glass was fun to try, but working with hot lead is NOT my thing). Similarly, I am a cat lady but love all animals (and the chance to pet them).
I am a big advocate for LGBTQ, women’s and immigrant rights (and just social justice in general). One of my proudest achievements has been organizing We the People - A Resistance Art Exhibit - featuring Mighigan artists and creatives and raising funds that benefitted the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights. I hope to organize or otherwise be involved in similar events in the future.
Exhibits
2026
We the People - A Resistance Art Exhibit - Ink & Dye (Milan, MI)
2025
The Mitten’s Surface: Lower Michigan Contemporary Printmaking - KickstART Gallery (Farmington, MI)
2024
Block Prints by Mady Chen - Grosse Pointe Congregational Church (Grosse Pointe, MI)
2023
Call and Response - 2023 - Grosse Pointe Congregational Church (Grosse Pointe, MI)
Awards
2025
Riverside Art Fair - Best in Show (Bay City, MI)
Lakeshore Art Festival - 3rd Place (Muskegon, MI)
Saginaw Art Fair - Best in 2D Media (Saginaw, MI)
2024
St. Clair Art Fair - Honorable Mention (St. Clair, MI)
Riverside Art Fair - Best in Show (Bay City, MI)
2023
Riverside Art Fair - Best in Show (Bay City, MI)
St. Clair Art Fair - Second Place (St. Clair, MI)
The OG Apple & Thistle
The original Apple and Thistle are my two beloved cats (their full names are Appledore and Thistlewool) - eleven years young at the time of this edit. They are excellent studio assistants - Apple routinely brings me her favorite mouseys for play and/or snack breaks and Thistle loves to yell at me until I stop what I’m doing and join him in admiring the wonders of the dripping bathroom sink. They provide constant companionship and inspiration - and you will find their faces and antics in many of my pieces.