My investigation of motherhood considers the identity of parent and child and whether nature versus nurture is influential. As a young woman growing up in the South, I rejected the culturally implied stereotypes of the ideal mother and woman, which often were the same. As an adult and a mother, I find myself electing to personify characteristics of these previously rebuked stereotypes and pondering whether history is on loop.

The images in this series individually and collectively allude to the roles of mother and daughter, the historical and cultural influences that shape the identities of each, and the art historical context of motherhood, femininity, and women’s identity. These depictions attest to selfhood, uncertainty, and parallels that are threaded between the ascendant and descendant. The innate bond and the distinct identities are ever evolving, with depictions alternating between the observer and the observed, as the child matures into a fully realized sense of self. Extending past the snapshot, these images record the growth of the individual and the deepening intimate connection within the familial unit.

The portraiture provides an outlet for empowerment, vulnerability, control of the gaze, and self-discovery. The choice of materials in my artistic practice grounds these works in the history of women’s craft and of the photographic medium. Photography serves as the foundation from which layers of meaning are imbued through the incorporation of symbolic materials and processes. The physical interaction in the creation of each piece provides a ritual outlet and space to meditate on the connection between the artist and the artwork and how each piece embodies a facet of my identity.