Madison artist Samantha Jane Mullen employs madness, chaos, and whimsy when creating her surreal animal sculptures, and other works. Some of her sculptures can hang on the wall, and others stand on their own. 

Mullen is an exhibiting artist as part of Carnelian Art Gallery's Surrealism show, which will be on display until the end of December. Be sure to mark your calendars, also, for Friday, Dec. 19, as the gallery has planned a closing/holiday reception for Surrealism. It starts at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. that night, Madison artist Helen Klebesadel will give an artist talk about her works displayed as part of Surrealism, as well as her background as a watercolors extraordinaire and art educator. 

For Mullen, think a colorful representation of a hare jumping out of a monster's mouth, along with tree branches. In the gallery that's Mullen's "Strange Bouquet" series, which is loosely inspired by ... drum roll please ... her dog throwing up on her carpet. That goes to show that inspiration came come from the most quirky of places, either in physical reality or in the mind. 

That, or a depiction of a fish whose fins become vines or leaves, as well as a humanoid creature with bird legs, several animal heads, and wings. 

Mullen's whimsy is apparent even in how she titles her pieces. Many are made using different types of clay, wire, tin foil, and acrylic paints on the finished product. But Mullen also uses "delirious ambition," "anxiety" and even "suspicion."

The artist is originally from State College, Pennsylvania. She went to university in New Orleans, Lousiana, graduating in 2013 and taking to wood burning. Mullen also enjoys writing, and has tried drawing, painting, and other artistic mediums, but found sculpting after moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico (after 11 years in New Orleans). Mullen only recently moved to Madison, and said she continues to enjoy establishing herself among her peers in the city's art community. 

Of what inspires her work, Mullen said she likes taking "the scary and ickey things that are haunting me and turning them into disturbing and playful works of art."

She called Carnelian's Surrealism show "beautiful."

"It's lovely to be part of a group of artists who are so kind and humble," Mullen said. "I appreciated this specific show. It felt more like community. It doesn't always feel that way in shows."