Maddie Last

A Little Bit About Me

I am first and foremost a country girl. I grew up near the small town of Swifts Creek, surrounded by the Australian bush.
After leaving high school I tried my hand at city life and University studying Science and Journalism, but discovered it really didn’t suit me.

At that point I dropped out and started on a new career path. I completed an apprenticeship and became a qualified Heavy Vehicle Mechanic. This is where I first learnt the basic skills of welding, and a comfort for playing with power tools.

After leaving Melbourne I started learning my way around a welder, building upon the little bits and pieces I’d learnt during my apprenticeship. I began creating metal art sculptures using the piles of farm scrap we had available, and I developed a love for creating art and new life from old, unwanted junk.

Up until this point, I had never really considered myself a creative or artistic person. But I discovered I had a bit of a knack for shaping metal and making sculptures from scrap metal.

After a year or so of creating bits and pieces, I entered some of my creations into several sculpture prizes. I ended up winning an award for my sculpture The Stag at the Swanpool Creative Recycled Art Prize, then two months later I won the Arnold Bloch Liebler Award and the Winery Choice Award for my sculpture Epicormic Regeneration at the Yering Station Sculpture Prize.

So at that point I though maybe, I could try my hand as a full time artist..?

We moved back to my home town of Swifts Creek in 2019, me with the intention to become a full time sculptor. Between bushfires and Covid, that dream was a little bit delayed.

But I got there in the end!

These days I now get to work full time as a metal artist from our property in Swifts Creek.

I spend my time collecting random junk (treasure), giving it a new life and sharing it with the world.

AWARDS

2018 - SCRAP - Best Sculpture/Funcional Item - Large 

2018 - Yering Station Sculpture Prize - Arnold Bloch Liebler Award 

2018 - Yering Station Sculpture Prize - Winery Choice Award

2019 - Jindabyne Lake Light Sculpture - ANU Artist Residency Award 

2023 - Jindabyne Lake Light Sculpture - Peoples Choice Award

2024 - Kemppi Art of Welding Competition - 1st Prize