Vision
JADE MCDONELL is a first-generation Canadian of Chinese-Caribbean and Australian heritage. After a Bachelor of Design at Ryerson University majoring in fashion, she spent the early part of her career living in New York City. There Jade explored new areas of design and worked under a product designer and architect; she honed her understanding of furniture and object design. Once back in Toronto, she launched Stoneface Co., a design studio focusing on furniture and art objects. Her studio operates in Toronto and Melbourne, Australia, for part of the year; the cross-pollination of the two cities is integral to her process.
Her artistic practice is sculptural; she works with bold abstract shapes, challenging what is possible within the framework of a functional piece of furniture. Currently, she works with hardwood, glass, metal, resin and textiles. Jade draws on fashion's disruptive nature and tactile aesthetic; her work incorporates a sense of movement and repetition and emphasizes silhouette. Her collections are often rooted in her strong connection to water and coastal environments.
In 2020, she exhibited her Night Drive collection in DesignTo. Design Lines Magazine featured her work in the 'Top Ten Must-Sees' of the festival. She is currently a member of Flick the Switch Artists Collective in Parkdale, Toronto. Through Student Links Community Living Ontario, Jade tutors youth with intellectual disabilities interested in art and design.
Through her art, Jade invites a sense of otherworldliness and awe. She aims to create an interruption, a blank space that allows viewers to think less linearly and imagine new possibilities.
Jade is open to commissioned and custom work. Contact Studio Little Red to find out more.