Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood

Launched at Arnolfini, Bristol, Hayward Gallery Touring’s major group exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood plunges into the joys and heartaches, mess, myths and mishaps of motherhood through over 100 artworks, from the feminist avant-garde to the present day.

Curator Hettie Judah at the launch of Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood at Arnolfini Bristol credit: Lisa Whiting. Courtesey Arnolfini and Hayward Gallery Touring

While the Madonna and Child is one of the great subjects of European art, we rarely see art about motherhood as a lived experience, in all its complexity. Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood addresses this blind spot in art history, asserting the artist mother as an important – if rarely visible – cultural figure.

Featuring the work of more than sixty modern and contemporary artists, this exhibition approaches motherhood as a creative enterprise, albeit one at times tempered by ambivalence, exhaustion or grief. Acts of Creation explores the lived experience of motherhood, offering a complex account that engages with contemporary concerns about gender, caregiving and reproductive rights.

The exhibition addresses diverse experiences of motherhood across three themes: Creation, which looks at conception, pregnancy, birth and nursing; Maintenance, which explores motherhood and caregiving in the day-to-day; and Loss, which touches on miscarriage and involuntary childlessness, as well as reproductive rights. The heart of the exhibition is a series of revelatory self-portraits – a celebration of the artist as mother.

Featuring painting, photography, sculpture, sound and film, artists presenting work across the exhibition's tour include: Felicity Allen; Janine Antoni; Cassie Arnold; Bobby Baker; Elina Brotherus; Liesel Burisch; Cathy Cade; Lea Cetera; Jai Chuhan; Eileen Cooper; Renee Cox; Dorothy Cross; Rineke Dijkstra; Natalie Djurberg and Hans Berg; Leni Dothan; Marlene Dumas; Catherine Elwes;Tracey Emin; Jessa Fairbrother; Rachel Fallon; Feministo; Fenix; Maeve Gilmore; Anna Grevenitis; Camille Henrot; Susan Hiller; Ghislaine Howard; Elsa James; Chantal Joffe; Claudette Johnson; Mary Kelly; Liss LaFleur; Tala Madani; Sally Mann; MATERNAL FANTASIES; Lindsey Mendick; Mother Art; Wangechi Mutu; Ishbel Myerscough; Everlyn Nicodemus; Catherine Opie; Fani Parali; Celia Paul; Cathie Pilkington; Laure Prouvost; Paula Rego; Su Richardson; Sister Seven; Monica Sjöö; Annegret Soltau; Tabitha Soren; Heather Spears; Nancy Spero; Hannah Starkey; Emma Talbot; The Hackney Flashers;
Mierle Laderman Ukeles; Valie Export; Christine Voge; Del la Grace Volcano; Barbara Walker; Caroline Walker; Carrie Mae Weems; Nancy Willis; Hermione Wiltshire; Hermione Wiltshire and Clare Bottomley; Carmen Winant; Daphne Wright; Billie Zangewa.

Hettie Judah, Curator of Acts of Creation, says: “Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood is a true passion project: the fruit of long gestation and many years' labour. I am profoundly grateful to Hayward Gallery Touring and our four exhibition partners for sharing my belief that the lived experience of motherhood is an important subject, and one that we might explore with great affection and humour while not shying away from pain and struggle. From the start, it has been my hope that Acts of Creation would be an engaging show with a lively public programme, and I am excited to see how this will evolve with each venue along its tour.”

Brian Cass, Senior Curator, Hayward Gallery Touring, says: “This expansive exhibition, curated with great love, insight and imagination by Hettie Judah, could not be more relevant. Celebrating diverse experiences of motherhood, and the artist mother as a creative force, Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood continues Hayward Gallery Touring’s commitment to developing exhibitions that address important subjects and explore new artistic narratives.

We’re delighted and privileged to be working with our exhibition partners on this ambitious project and we hope it will start wide-reaching conversations about our understanding of art and parenthood.”

Gemma Brace, Head of Exhibitions at Arnolfini, says: “We are excited to be working with Hettie and the team at Hayward Gallery Touring on such a timely exhibition addressing themes that have held growing importance to our programme and audiences over the last three years; from exhibitions with Jo Spence, Chantal Joffe, Polly Braden and Paula Rego to the growing diversity of the community partners we work with. With its focus upon lived experiences, we hope in turn it will open up new conversations that resonate for the future.”

Deborah Kermode, CEO and Artistic Director at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), says: “We are delighted to be working with Hettie Judah and Hayward Gallery Touring to present Acts of Creation at MAC in Birmingham; a major touring exhibition that examines the realities, complexities, and diverse experiences of motherhood. Alongside the exhibition, we are pleased to be programming a dedicated season of community events - from 'Bad Mothers' in cinema, to celebration feasts, and live comedy.”

Kirstie Hamilton, Director of Programmes at the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, says: “It’s really wonderful to be continuing our relationship with Hayward Gallery Touring. The breadth of work Hettie has brought together offers a compelling reflection on motherhood in many forms and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming the exhibition to Sheffield in autumn 2024.”

Beth Bate, Director at Dundee Contemporary Arts, says: “We're thrilled to be bringing Acts of Creation to audiences in Scotland in partnership with Hayward Gallery Touring. Motherhood is an incredibly rich theme, and one we can't wait to explore through an exciting and thought-provoking selection of work curated by Hettie Judah."
Acts of Creation is accompanied by a lively programme of public events. Additionally, in conjunction with the exhibition is Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood, a new book by Hettie Judah that will be published in July 2024 by Thames and Hudson. The book explores art and motherhood over the last 500 years, looking at both motherhood as the subject of art and the circumstance of its creation.

Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood is curated by Hettie Judah with Hayward Gallery Touring.