Couroux, MarcGrad, Rachael2024-07-182024-07-182024-03-272024-07-18https://hdl.handle.net/10315/42130Motherhood is mayhem. Since becoming a mother, I carve out space and time for short creation bursts. I observe my children’s lack of inhibitions and carefree use of materials and incorporate their habits into my work. Art routines are a way to create in my messy maternal life. This thesis examines: How is the practice of an artist-mother visible, and how is it currently categorized in the visual arts? Concurrently, by what specific modalities do parents carve out space and time for work, art, family, and health, and what tactics might be envisioned? This paper defines motherwork, a mother’s studio practice, mother artist examples, the use of toys and gestures in my Mommy Mayhem and Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train art series. I explore my creativity, concluding with future plans involving artmaking and workshops for parents. Artistic play is critical for an artist mother.Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.AestheticsFine artsGender studiesElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2024-07-18MotherhoodMotherParentParenthoodMotherworkArt routineMother artistArtist motherStudy practiceArt practiceToy artToysArtworkFine artVisual artArtAestheticEstheticGenderParentingMotheringCaregiverCaregivingPaintingDrawingStudio artContemporary artContemporary artistFamiliesGender rolesFeministFeminismFamilyWomenWomanGender inequalityPlayWhimsyStuffed animalsTrainMotherhood Hit Me Like a TrainMommy MayhemContemporary fine artCanadian artistTorontoGales GalleryYork UniversityArt galleryArt exhibition