Until recently, being a successful artist and being a parent were seen as incompatible.
Artists were expected to devote themselves entirely to their craft, sacrificing personal lives and family connections in pursuit of financial and creative success.
This perception was fueled by the art market.
Why are artists looked down on for being parents? Well, galleries and dealers prioritized artists who could consistently produce and sell their work. If you had a kid, you weren’t making artwork for the gallery to sell.
However, the art world has evolved, so too have attitudes towards artists with families.
THIS ARTICLE COVERS:
Alice Neel, Mother And Child, 1982 (Art Commerce)
Introduction: The Changing Landscape of Art and Parenthood
• Why artist parents are marginalized
The Money Machine Mentality: A Barrier to Family Life
• Changing Tides: Embracing Diversity and Complexity in Artists' Lives
• Measuring Progress: Better Opportunities for Artist-Parents
• The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Artistic Practice
• Fostering Diverse and Supportive Communities for Artist-Parents
Best Resource Guide To Organizations Supporting Artist Moms
(residencies, grants, funding, and more)
“Stripped of time, materials and a space of her own but still aching to work, Reut Asimini began transforming her daughter’s doodles into collaborative art pieces.Credit...Reut Asimini” NY TIMES
The Money Machine
For decades, artists were viewed as money machines, expected to churn out a steady stream of work to fuel the insatiable art market. Galleries and dealers, focused on maximizing profits, often frowning upon artists who took time away from their work to focus on family life.
The idea that artists with children might not produce as much work or might lose their creative edge was a common concern, resulting in a stigma discouraging many from pursuing having a work / family balance.
NOTE: Studies show that working parents who maintain a positive work-life balance are more engaged and productive at work. The research revealed that parents who successfully managed their work and family roles experienced a 21% increase in job performance and a 33% increase in overall work engagement (Journal of Managerial Psychology : source).
Changing Tides
Madeline Donahue, ‘Palette Table’, (artist instagram)
Along with the internet and democratization of information, the art world shifted too, becoming more inclusive and welcoming to a broader range of artists. Diverse narratives, and more complex personal lives are common in today’s high power art market with some artists being championed for creating art about parenthood.
Many of the world’s highest-grossing women artists are mothers, including Julie Mehretu, Marlene Dumas, Cecily Brown, and Chen Peiqiu - Artsy
The rise of social media and the ability to connect directly with audiences allowed artists to bypass traditional gatekeepers, reducing the pressure to conform to traditional expectations.
Additionally, the expanding definition of art has led to a greater appreciation for the intersection of art and life. Contemporary artists embrace their roles as parents and incorporate ever broader experiences into their work.
This shift fosters a more supportive environment for artists with families and contributes to the breakdown of the money machine stereotype.
It’s challenging to pinpoint the evolving attitudes towards artists with families, one measure of progress is the increased number of resources and opportunities available to artist-parents. For example, the Sustainable Arts Foundation, established in 2010, has awarded over $1 million in grants to support artists and writers with families as of 2021. Other resources like the Interlude Residency, an art residency tailored specifically to artist parents shows a changing landscape.
SEE A FULL RESOURCE LIST AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE
New opportunities for artist parents demonstrate the growing recognition and support and the development of a more inclusive art world.
Today, you can be an art superstar AND an artist mother. A recent Artsy article by Marina Cashdan shows how some of the most popular artists today are balancing work and family. Cashdan interviews some amazing art-moms for the article, like Kara Walker, Laurie Simmons, Diana Al-Hadid, and Tara Donovan.
The Importance of Work-Life Balance
Madeline Donahue, ‘Out in a Minute’, (artist instagram)
The conversation surrounding work-life balance has increased in recent years. Artists, like anyone else, require time and space to nurture their personal lives.
This balance can actually enhance their creative output. Many artists have found that parenthood has enriched their work, providing new perspectives and experiences that have fueled their artistic growth.
In addition, parenting makes us look outside ourselves and become more empathetic to a broader range of cultural stimuli.
Companies led by CEOs with daughters scored 11.9% higher on corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings compared to companies led by CEOs without daughters : (Harvard Business Review)
Another advantage for artist-parents is fostering a diverse and supportive community. Embracing parenthood gives artists the chance to expand their horizons beyond their usual friend groups. By engaging with other parents and families through their children, artists gain access to a wider array of perspectives and experiences, enriching their personal and professional networks.
Broadening our social sphere can inspire and inform your artistic practice, fostering a broader collector base and ally network.
Conclusion
Can I be both an artist and a parent?
The answer today is a definite yes!
While the idea of artists as money machines still hold, the overall shift towards inclusivity and the recognition of work-life balance have significantly changed attitudes towards artists with families.
By embracing the intersection of art and life, contemporary artists challenge old stereotypes and prove that creatives can balance a thriving career and a fulfilling personal life.
ARTIST PARENT RESOURCE GUIDE
Natalie Baxter and her daughter Petra in her former Bushwick, Brooklyn, studio. Photo by Maxim Ryazansky, courtesy of Natalie Baxter.
In addition to the Sustainable Arts Foundation and Interlude residency, there are several resources and organizations dedicated to supporting artist mothers/parent and helping to balance careers and family life:
Cultural ReProducers: An artist-led platform that aims to provide resources, support, and visibility for artist-parents. They offer events, workshops, and a wealth of information to help creative parents navigate the challenges of balancing art and family life. Website: http://www.culturalreproducers.org/
Artist Mother Network: An online community connecting artist mothers through social media, podcasts, and exhibitions. The network offers a space for discussion, sharing resources, and promoting the work of artist mothers. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistmotherpodcast/
The Motherhood and Creative Practice Research Network: A research network focused on understanding the intersections between motherhood and creative practice. They organize conferences, workshops, and publications to support artist mothers and facilitate dialogue on the topic. Website: https://motherhoodandcreativepractice.wordpress.com/
The Mother Art Prize: An international open call for self-identifying women, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming artists who are mothers. The prize aims to promote and support the work of artist mothers and create visibility for their artistic achievements. Website: https://www.procreateproject.com/mother-art-prize/
M/other Voices Foundation: A platform for knowledge production and exchange focusing on art, research, and activism related to motherhood. The foundation organizes events, exhibitions, and projects aimed at creating a supportive community for artist mothers. Website: https://www.mothervoices.org/
The Artist Parent Index: The Artist Parent Index is a searchable database of artists making work about their experience with reproduction and child-rearing. http://www.artistparentindex.com/collections/show/4
PAAL Childcare Grants: Grants for parent-artist creating in the United States seeking funding for general artistic and/or general professional childcare support or project-specific childcare support. Union membership not required. All theatrical disciplines and administrative positions are eligible to apply for these grants.
AS220 - Providence, RI: AS220 is offering tuition fellowships and childcare stipends for parents to attend Practice/Practice, a 4-day professional development residency program for arts administrators.
Aunt Karen’s Farm - Cooperstown, NY: A residency that has been hosting artists’ families on an ad hoc basis for years, Aunt Karen’s Farm is now formalizing its support by hosting families for one-week sessions in individual guest houses during their new family residency program.
MORE PARENT ARTIST RESIDENCIES:
Brooklyn Art Exchange - Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Art Exchange will offer Parent-Artist Space Grants designed to provide New York City emerging dance and theater artists with multi-faceted support over an extended period of time as they develop and produce new work. The grant includes a childcare stipend as well as discounted BAX performing arts classes for the children of grantees.
Caldera - Portland, OR
Caldera offers parent-artist fellowships which include housing and childcare on-site for visual, literary, performing, and culinary artists.
Elsewhere Studios - Paonia & North Fork Valleys, CO
At Elsewhere Studios, we recognize the limited accessibility to residencies as a parent. The length of time, cost of travel, and leaving behind your family can make attending very, very difficult. Thanks to the generous support of Sustainable Arts Foundation, Elsewhere Studios is happy to host 4 parent creatives for the second year in a row during July 2020.
Gallery Aferro - Newark, NJ
Co-founded by a single mother artist, Gallery Aferro provides residencies and stipends for parent artists in Newark, New Jersey.
Kala Art Institute - Berkeley, CA
A hub for Bay Area visual artists, Kala offers flexible programs—including residencies, classes, children’s art camp, and consultations about professional development—to parent artists.
The Luminary - Saint Louis, MO
Founded by parent-artists, The Luminary offers a dedicated fellowship for artist parents that includes increased financial support, a private apartment, and participation in an artist-led childcare cooperative, all to facilitate creative time in the studio.
The Marble House Project - Dorset, VT
A sixteen-day summer camp for the whole family, Marble House Project’s Family Friendly Session is in its fourth year of providing onsite child-centered programming and support so that the parents can work uninterrupted for most of the day.
Millay Colony - Austerlitz, NY
Millay is a model of flexibility for parent artists, offering shortened and “virtual” residencies (a one-month bank to be used as the resident likes), as well as post-residency workshops and professional development programs.
Popps Packing - Hamtramck, MI
Founded in a former meat-packing plant by parent artists, Popps Packing offers a fully-funded family residency, the Momm and Popp Residency, which includes a childcare stipend and the support of a residency intern to facilitate workshops and childcare.
Rivendell Writer’s Colony - Sewanee, TN
A relatively new and year-round residency neighboring the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Rivendell will offer fully-funded residencies for writers with children.
Santa Fe Art Institute - Santa Fe, NM
The Santa Fe Art Institute will continue its Family Residency Initiative, supporting parent artists with a residency fellowship and childcare stipend.
SPACE at Ryder Farm - Brewster, NY
The SPACE at Ryder Farm will significantly expand a family-friendly residency they’ve been hosting for two years. It’s one of the most thoughtful programs we’ve seen where the needs of both parents and children are perfectly addressed.
Spread Art - Detroit, MI
Spread Art offers fully-funded residencies for visual artists, writers, dancers, musicians, curators and performing artists, including stipends to cover childcare and other costs whether their family accompanies them to Detroit or stays at home.
Vermont Studio Center - Johnson, VT
A leader in adjusting their programs to best fit parent writers and artists, VSC will again offer residency fellowships for parents.
Women’s Studio Workshop - Rosedale, NY
Located in upstate New York, The Women’s Studio Workshop offers a fully-subsidized, month-long residency for a parent artist working in printmaking, book making, ceramics, or photography.