Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood at Millennium Gallery

Sheffield’s Millennium Gallery welcomes a touring exhibition that has become one of the defining events of the year in visual arts. Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood, curated by writer and curator Hettie Judah, gathers over 100 artworks about the experience of motherhood, caregiving and loss, with all of the emotional complexity that it brings. 

This unique perspective focuses on the artist mother – unlike the romanticised Madonna and Child portrayals that proliferate Western art history, the artists in Acts of Creation choose honesty over myth, portraying their experiences in a myriad of ways and reflecting their breadth: from the practicalities to the most intimate moments. Approaching “motherhood as a creative enterprise”, the works do not shy away from feelings of ambivalence, exhaustion or grief that can often accompany the everyday life of an artist parent.

The exhibition features work from more than 60 modern and contemporary artists, including painting, sculpture, installation, sound works and photography. Addressing three themes, the show is split into: Creation, Maintenance and Loss. These allow for a more in-depth exploration of the diversity of experience, from conception and pregnancy, through the day-to-day responsibilities as well as miscarriage and reproductive rights. The artist as mother is celebrated through a series of compelling self-portraits which sit at the heart of the display. 

Acts of Creation features a number of classic works: viewers will find Paula Rego’s Abortion Series, a heartbreaking set of etchings of Portuguese women enduring the pain of illegal terminations. The series played a pivotal role in bringing the country’s abortion debate to the fore once more, resulting in the legalisation of abortion in 2007.

Carrie Mae Weems’ Kitchen Table Series uses photographs to show the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship. Marlene Dumas’ series of signature portraits were made in collaboration with her young child who added to them a touch of colour with poster paints.

Lea Cetera’s You Can’t Have It All (2022) is a glass sculpture in the form of an hourglass shaped like two conjoined uteruses. Pink sand can flow between them as a comment on limited time as a key consideration in planning to have children.

These are just some of the highlights from what is a truly fascinating show, where experiences conflict and intertwine to portray the complex interplay between motherhood and art.

Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood is organised by Hayward Gallery Touring and will travel to Dundee for the last part of its tour around the country.