ARTIST MOTHERS* WORKING by artist Marie Déhé, is a photographic project on the representation and perception of artists who are mothers.

The project aims to make the realities of artist mothers visible through images, creating a vast and inclusive collection that examines how motherhood influences artistic practices and careers, presented as a photographic installation.
Inspired by the concept of a collaborative archive, I seek to gather images from a variety of sources, including historical archives, personal collections from artists, and my own photography.
My intention is to build a polymorphic collective archive that challenges traditional portrayals of artist mothers, offering a nuanced perspective on their contributions and struggles.

Since 2018, my work has explored my own intimate domestic setting and experience of motherhood. My children’s presence in my work adds a layer of reflection on the practical and political dimensions of motherhood. Although parenthood is not my primary subject, it provides new perspectives and informs my creative process.
I have grappled with viewing motherhood as either a source of liberation or a barrier to my career in the art world. Through conversations with fellow artists, I found we share similar experiences, viewing maternity as both a deeply personal and political journey that inspires and shapes our practices.

The project began in the summer of 2023 with visits to archives and libraries, followed by an open call for contributions from other artists. To date, I have received contributions from approximately 40 contemporary artists who identify as mothers, as well as from artist collectives. This collaborative method allows a range of voices and experiences to be represented, granting artists the opportunity to shape their own narratives.

To produce a varied and realistic portrait of the mother artist, it is essential for me to gather as many experiences as possible. The call for contributions provides the most effective means of approaching candidates both at home and abroad and also allows the artists to choose the representation of themselves with which they respond. The photographic material collected will be presented in the form of a photographic installation. The use of these images is subject to the authorization of the artists. All images will be credited as applies and copyright remains with the artist.

During a conversation on motherhood and creativity, with curator Giorgia Basch and researcher Marta Equi at Libreria Delle Donne in Milano, the material collected between July and November 2023 was presented on two tables in the form of 10 x 15 cm prints and a notebook documenting the experiences of the interviewed artists.

* I have chosen to use the term ‘mother’ here to designate the principal caregiver (it’s independent of biological relation, reproduction role and gender identity).

ARTIST MOTHERS WORKING About Call for contributionsQuestionnaire En français

ARTIST MOTHERS WORKING

About Call for contributionsQuestionnaireEn français

ARTIST MOTHERS WORKING

About

Call for contributions
Questionnaire
En français

About

Call for contributions
Questionnaire
En français