Maddy Meredith

My work explores the impact of consumerism and how we are conditioned to want things we don’t actually need. Society profits from our naivety, using advertising and social pressure to make us believe that buying more will make us happier. I used to fall into this trap—thinking that owning the right clothes or beauty products would make me feel complete. But I realized that no matter how much I bought, the feeling of emptiness always came back. Through my art, I want to make people question their own relationship with consumerism and recognize how it shapes their desires. I was inspired by Banksy’s satirical take on capitalism, Mitch Griffiths’ hyperrealist critiques of modern society, and Salvador Dalí’s surreal depictions of obsession and dependence. Michelangelo’s Renaissance imagery also influenced my work, particularly themes of vulnerability, self-reflection, and human desire. Painting has been a way for me to process my own journey with consumerism, and through it, I hope to challenge viewers to reflect on the true cost of their wants. 

Works by Maddy Meredith