About the Artist

Madison (Maddie) Touran is a classically trained oil painter with a background in planetary science. Her work blends classical realism with subtle surrealist elements, exploring themes of emotion, mythology, and transformation.

She earned her PhD in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis in 2021 and currently works as a Staff Scientist with NASA's Planetary Data System, contributing to Mars mission operations and the long-term archiving of planetary data.

Madison began painting seriously in 2020, drawn to the discipline and depth of traditional oil techniques. Her portrait and figure work often evokes a quiet intensity—inviting viewers to engage with internal states, layered meanings, and moments suspended in time.