Defining Motherhood

Defining Motherhood, is an ongoing series of diptychs that I  began in 2021 that explores themes of sexuality and identity in the lives of mothers. This collection consists of one portrait of a woman dressed in lingerie accompanied by a still life that includes the objects or spaces related to that woman.

I was inspired to create this series after having a conversation with my mother about these topics. Although she expressed that it is an honor to be a mother, she also described moments where she does not feel beautiful or sexy in her own skin. Based on this conversation, I initially wanted this series to be about women’s empowerment, in which mothers were given the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with their sexuality free from judgment. However, after photographing these portraits the series became much more than women in lingerie expressing one’s sexuality. In fact, the work became more intimate, as their environments told hidden stories about their personality, interests, hobbies, and memories.

With this new direction, I began interviewing these women before the photoshoot to explore the objects and spaces in their immediate environment. These conversations revealed that these objects and spaces provided safety, connected them to their past, or served as a reminder of who they are. Every interview revealed a sense of wisdom, beauty, and complexity, which the series sought to explore and celebrate.

As a young woman without children, defining what it means to be a mother is difficult to articulate. Instead of trying to define motherhood, this body of work explores and celebrates the complexity and strength of these women who are also mothers. Through all of this, I discovered that the word “mother” is actually an adjective and not a noun. It can be used to describe a woman but does not define a woman.