For Louisiana artist Madalyn Goff, art is more than color and texture—it is worship, healing, and the language of light. Working primarily in acrylics, epoxy, gold leaf, and texture compounds, Goff transforms each canvas into a living surface that shimmers, shifts, and breathes emotion. Her pieces are alive, meant not just to be seen, but felt—evoking peace, joy, and reverence in those who stand before them.

“I refer to my creations as the jewelry in the room,” Goff explains. “They sparkle and change throughout the day, catching the light differently at every hour. They come alive.”

Art has been part of Goff’s life since childhood. Her mother, Marilyn Cothren, was a print artist and watercolorist who instilled in her the importance of creativity. “I grew up watching her paint and show her work in galleries,” Madalyn recalls. “She taught me early on that art is an extension of life itself.”

From the time she could hold a brush, Goff found herself exploring that expression and giving art as gifts, as she instinctively used creativity as a way to connect with others. “As children, we are all artists,” she says. “Unfortunately, we learn the ‘rules of art’ and start deciding whether we’re good enough. I never wanted to lose that childlike freedom.” And she did not.

THE PROCESS: WORSHIP THROUGH CREATION

For Goff, creating art is a spiritual act. She approaches each piece as a form of worship and meditation, painting while listening to Life Songs Radio and praying over her pieces. Many of her commissions are deeply personal collaborations with her clients. Some of which have been collaborations with families who want to honor a loved one, capture a milestone, or bring healing to a moment of loss.

“I’ve painted heartbeats for babies who didn’t survive the womb, memorials for beloved pets, and portraits of brides trying on their wedding dresses,” she shares. “Each piece tells a sacred story. I consider it a privilege to help people hold on to beauty in difficult times.”

Her canvases hold layers of emotion as rich as the physical materials themselves— texture and metallic leaf reflecting light like memory, faith, and hope made tangible.

Style And Spirit

While her works are sometimes inspired by realism, Goff’s true signature lies in her whimsical, luminous style. Her paintings seem to shimmer between worlds, not quite abstract, not quite representational, with a sense of wonder that shifts with the changing light.

“I rarely create strict realism,” she explains. “I like my pieces to feel alive, different at every glance. The textures and metallics allow that transformation. They mirror life; always changing, always surprising.”

And, the subjects she is commissioned to interpret are as diverse as her own imagination: portraits of cultural icons like Lil Wayne, Biggie Smalls, and Post Malone. Then, in the same breath, paintings of serene landscapes where lovers were proposed to and abstract works born purely of emotion. Each one reflects her openness to inspiration and collaboration.

“I’m constantly discovering myself through my work,” she says. “Each commission pushes me to paint something I might never have dreamt of, and that’s the gift of art. It keeps revealing who you are.”

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Art As A Vessel For Joy

Beyond her studio, Goff’s art is also a ministry of joy. She serves as an art therapy instructor with the St. Tammany Foundation, teaching monthly sessions at a local cancer center. For many patients, these classes are a highlight amid the challenges of treatment.

“One woman told me she used to dread coming to the cancer center,” Goff recalls. “After joining our art sessions, she said she now looks forward to it. That’s the power of creativity, it changes how we see the world.”

Her artwork has been featured in multiple publications, displayed in both St. Tammany and Ochsner hospitals, and continues to reach audiences far beyond her Louisiana home. But for Goff, the greatest reward is the quiet moment when someone connects with her work—when they feel seen.

A Reflection Of Light

When asked what she hopes people feel when viewing her art, Goff’s answer is simple yet profound: “Peace. Happiness. Reverence. I want my art to remind people that they are seen and heard, even on their worst days.”

Her paintings radiate that intention, each one vibrant yet gentle, spiritual yet grounded. Whether through the glint of gold leaf or the subtle shift of texture, each piece seems to whisper a message of renewal.

Through every brushstroke, Madalyn Goff channels both faith and feeling, creating art that heals, honors, and celebrates the beauty in every story.