For too long, artists have been told that they can't have both
motherhood and a successful career. In this polemical volume, critic and
campaigner Hettie Judah argues that a paradigm shift is needed within
the art world to take account of the needs of artist mothers (and other
parents: artist fathers, parents who don't identify with the term
'mother', and parents in other sectors of the art world).
Drawing on interviews with artists internationally, the book highlights
some of the success stories that offer models for the future, from
alternative support networks and residency models, to studio complexes
with onsite childcare, and galleries with family-friendly policies.
Some artists have described motherhood as providing them with renewed
focus, a new direction in their work, and even inspiration for a
complete change of career. Other artists choose to keep their domestic
and creative lives compartmentalised. All are placed at a disadvantage
by the art world as it is currently structured. This book argues that by
making changes and becoming more sensitive to the needs of artist
parents, the art world has much to gain.