Madelynne Grace

Bringing Atlanta’s Culinary Scene to Life

By Daniela Cintron

Published April 1, 2025

For “Colors of Atlanta,” photographer and food stylist Madelynne Grace brings her signature dark, moody and elegant aesthetic to the table. With a background in event marketing and sports PR, she found her true calling behind the camera, transforming her passion for food and plating into a full-fledged career.

Grace’s work is driven by a desire to make food come alive, capturing splashes, pours, cheese pulls and sprinkles with cinematic flair. Her photography is more than still life, it’s motion and emotion, a celebration of the artistry behind every dish. She often shoots alone, acting as her own lighting tech, hand model and action artist. But for this project, she collaborated with Atlanta chef Robert Butts, whose refined take on Southern comfort cuisine became the perfect canvas for her bold visuals.

An Ode to the City’s Flavor

Her concept for “Colors of Atlanta” was inspired by André 3000’s iconic declaration: “The South got something to say.” With the recent arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in Atlanta, Grace aimed to capture the city’s culinary rise. She envisioned a rustic, soulful table adorned with peach-forward dishes, as a tribute to Georgia’s signature fruit, and lemon pepper wings, an ode to the city’s unmistakable flavor. The table was filled with nods to Atlanta’s rich cultural history: a Martin Luther King Jr. book, an Outkast album peeking from the side and rustic oak tables at King Plow Arts Center creating the perfect backdrop.

Her collaboration with chef Butts resulted in visually stunning dishes: a peach burrata, peach salsa and a peach cobbler, with peaches sprinkled across the table as a motif. Though peaches were out of season, Grace pivoted seamlessly, highlighting her adaptability and creative spirit.

One of her standout concepts features three levitating sandwiches, each symbolizing Atlanta’s diverse flavors. The bottom sandwich, barbecue, represents the city’s underrated but rich BBQ heritage. The middle, a fried chicken brunch sandwich with a drippy egg, captures Atlanta’s brunch culture. The top, a lemon pepper wet burger, celebrates the city’s beloved wing flavor. Chef Butts’ hand hovers above, presenting his creation like a culinary magician.

The Magic in the Details

Grace’s dedication to authenticity shines through in every detail, from sourcing perfect ice for T-Pain’s cocktail book to ensure realistic sweat and chill, to capturing fleeting moments of sauce splashes mid-air. Her work is more than food photography — it’s a love letter to Atlanta’s flavors, culture and creativity seen through her bold and soulful lens.

Learn more about other talented photographers featured on “Colors of Atlanta” and watch the TV series.

Daniela is the content manager and bilingual editor for Discover Atlanta. As an award-winning bilingual journalist, she is passionate about shinning light on untold stories about culture, food and Atlanta.