Madison Marti Designs Creates Colorful Bar Accessories

by Hailey Almsted | Sep 2026

Madison Grainger’s designs, as seen on these cocktail stirrers, pay pay homage to Minnesota, including designs for the rusty patch bumblebee, the monarch butterfly and a nod to Minnesota’s nickname: The North Star State. Photos: Madison Grainger

A local painter turns everyday kitchenware into artwork.

For Madison Grainger, wine glasses are more than glassware; instead, they’re a canvas. The Woodbury resident has carved out a unique niche with her handpainted designs, and what began as a creative interest has grown into a distinctive style inspired by the colors, nature and wildlife that define Minnesota.

Madison was introduced to art at a young age by her parents, Keith and Michele Marti, who studied fashion design and art history respectively. She attended drawing classes and her father, Keith, even created costumes for her school’s plays. However, Madison lost touch with the hobby, choosing not to pursue it throughout high school and college.

Then, like so many others, Madison found the COVID-19 lockdowns to be isolating. She had just moved into an apartment with blank walls and little for her to do. “I started abstract painting canvases,” she says. “I wanted to make myself art to hang up.” It turned out to be an enjoyable hobby, one that grew into a full-time job with encouragement from her family.

Madison Grainger

Knowing her renewed interest in the arts, Georg and Paula Marti, the owners of New Ulm’s Morgan Creek Vineyards and Madison’s relatives, reached out with an idea. “They’re also into art,” Madison explains. “They said, ‘I wonder if you’d be interested in painting wine glasses.’ So I decided to mess around with painting on those and keeping it abstract. That’s become my signature.”

Madison launched Madison Marti Designs in 2022, with her first few wine glasses resembling the nature of Minnesota. “It’s all inspired by our state symbols; the [common] loon is the state bird, the monarch is the state butterfly, [and] the Lake Superior agate is the state gemstone,” she says. With acrylic paint, Madison uses a cross between pouring and dripping techniques (“I keep it a little secret because it’s unique,” she says of her methods.) to achieve the abstract look. Additionally, she uses instruments such as brushes, dotting tools and rubber stamps for smaller details. Every handpainted glass is sealed with a food- and drink-safe resin, so they can be enjoyed in daily life.

Several years later, Madison now sells handpainted bar and kitchen accessories; bud vases; and pint, rocks and tumbler glasses in addition to wine glasses. She has also since added more designs that are representative of Minnesota, including the state bee (rusty patched bumble bee), state fish (walleye) and state flower (showy lady’s slipper). “I knew I wanted [my art] to be inspired by Minnesota. I love Minnesota; it’s so beautiful,” she says.

In the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns, Madison Grainger delved into the world of painting—with wine glasses as her canvas. Now, her Northern Lights wine glass, inspired by the aurora borealis, is a bestseller.

Encouraged by the birth of her first child in December 2025, Madison released a birthstone collection in April where each handpainted glass is adorned with a faux birthstone crystal. “I like coming out with new items every now and then,” she says. Madison has collaborated with companies, such as St. Paul’s Barrel Theory Beer Company. “We’ve collabed to make limited pint glasses inspired by their beer and beer cans,” Madison says, noting that she enjoys the opportunity to experiment with new designs.

Currently, her products are stocked in 15 businesses across the Metro, and she hopes to stock in more boutiques. It’s her dedicated customer base that keeps her going. “I have a few … repeat customers who own one of everything I’ve made. They look at them and think, ‘It makes me proud to be a Minnesotan and see the beautiful things our state has to offer,’” she says. “It would be easy to run to Target or Amazon to get glassware. But they choose to support a small artist instead, which is great.”

Madison Grainger’s hand-painted wine stoppers pair beautifully with her wine glasses.

No matter how one discovers her designs, Madison hopes they feel excited. “I hope they look at [my artwork] and they relay it to the beauty of our state,” she says.

Shop Madison Marti Designs

Madison Grainger sells her handpainted bar and kitchenware at a variety of Metro stores. Discover all she has to offer at mmartidesigns.com and the following boutiques: