Acts of Creation delves into the joys and heartaches, mess, myths and mishaps of motherhood from ancient goddess artifacts to contemporary interpretations of pregnancy in the present. 

While the Madonna and Child archetype has dominated Western art, we rarely encounter art about real motherhood in all its raw, unfiltered complexity. This illustrated event examines how shifting ideals of motherhood have been constructed and promoted through visual culture, offering a fresh perspective that challenges conventions and inspires change.

It explores how 20^th and 21^st century women artists – among them Barbara Hepworth, Jenny Saville, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Betye Saar, Suzanne Valadon, Louise Bourgeois, Carrie Mae Weems – have worked to reclaim the narrative.

Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood is a Hayward Gallery touring exhibition curated by Hettie Judah. It can be seen at the Millennium Gallery from 24 October 2024 – 21 January 2025