PARTNERSHIP EDITIONS ARTISTS

Motherhood and art have always been deeply intertwined. They both require patience, intuition, resilience, resourcefulness, passion, and the ability to embrace the unexpected. To celebrate Mother's Day, we speak to Freyja Lee, Josefin Tolstoy, Josephine Birch, Kanica, Lucy Whitford and Mafalda Vasconcelos about how motherhood has influenced their creative process, how they balance their work and personal life, and transformed the way they see the world.

From navigating the balance between parenting and making art to embracing play as a form of inspiration, their experiences reveal the challenges, joys, and changes that come with being both an artist and a mother.

Here we invite you to read as they share their stories of creativity, chaos, and the quiet moments in between.

How has motherhood influenced your artistic practice?

Freyja: It has focused me in the most unexpected way. Finding a practice within the chaos is a difficult yet rewarding challenge.

Mafalda: Time has become the most important commodity as a mother, when inspiration or motivation comes I do my best to create. In times when I am not inspired to create, I give myself the grace to play with no judgement, and I let play be my main motivation to create. Motherhood has made me more aware of my time and of how I choose to spend it; when I have time to be an artist, I am fully and solely an artist.

How do you navigate the balance between being an artist and being a mother?

Kanica: As a mother of two young children - one two-year old and the other 6-months old - and being an artist, I’ve had to develop a flexible yet structured approach to balance both roles. Working from home has been key to me, as my creative space is often intertwined with the everyday rhythm of the home, which sometimes means my children are playing nearby while I work, or I’m adjusting my schedule to fit art during nap times or after bedtime.
The challenge is real, but I'm learning to embrace it as the days go by. I think the key is to find that balance where both parts of life support each other (except when they get a cold ;)) My art gives me a sense of fulfillment and helps me feel more grounded in my role as a mother too. It is defenitely not always easy, but with good time management, help from others, and a deep love for both aspects of my life, I’m gradually making it work.

Lucy: In my experience balance is very much an aspiration rather than a reality! It’s always a juggling act and I accept that some things will end up on the floor! I returned to full-time work when my twin girls started school and since then I’ve worked hard to develop my practice in a way that means I can work from home, have the flexibility I need to be there for my family, and feel stimulated and challenged creatively and professionally.
I’m happiest when I’m making - so I must make! My kids see me working in the studio every day. They see the highs and lows and they’re invested in the work too. It's a powerful thing when they acknowledge and celebrate the successes with me. I also have a wonderfully supportive partner who adapts to the changing demands of my work - he’s my number one cheerleader and my part-time driver!

Are there any childhood memories with your mother that have shaped the way you create?

Josefin: My mother has placed brushes and colors under my nose for as long as I can remember. Creating has been a natural part of how we spend time together and my upbringing. And as she created in many different mediums, primarily textiles, so I have tried many different techniques. I think that it has helped me to keep an open mindset and to go with my intuition not being afraid to try new ways to create.

Josephine: Many, my mum was a textile teacher and dress-maker so fabrics and dresses were always overflowing in our home. Fabrics and textile patterns come up regularly in my work. She was also always super supportive of me and my sisters' creative pursuits and I remember her proudly pinning my copy of a Monet (I think it was 'The Cliffs at Etretat') on the kitchen wall. Having this positive reinforcement from dot is everything!

Lucy: My mum was an artist, she specialised in textiles and some of my earliest memories are of the sound of her knitting needles clattering around my ears as I lay on her lap and the din of her knitting machine furiously zooming from left to right in her workroom late into the night.
She would often take me to see the most incredible art shows where it felt like my whole world-view would be expanded in just one afternoon! I remember in 1997 she took me to see Cathy de Monchaux at the Whitechapel Gallery. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before  - her use of materials as a language has stayed with me and still informs my practice.

Has becoming a mother changed the way you see or experience creativity?

Kanica: Becoming a mother has changed the way I experience creativity. Before I had children, I had the freedom to fully immerse myself in my art without any interruptions. Motherhood has reshaped that perspective, teaching me to be more adaptable, and appreciating the time I have to create in my daily life.

It's about finding inspiration on the chaos and beauty of parenting. I've noticed I'm also using brighter colours and creating more playful designs, which probably come from the colours and textures I see in their world. I've also learned to be more efficient and to take things one step at a time. There are also some constraints, as usually I need to decide whether to sit and read a book or sketch new ideas and designs for new artworks, and usually, the second option is the priority. For the time being, I still haven't been able to find the time to do both, but hopefully I will as they grow older.

Freyja: It has become more urgent. Like a thirst that needs desperately to be quenched. My time has become wildly precious.

Mafalda: Play has become a very important part of my daily life with a 2-year-old toddler; life has become synonymous with play. Since becoming a mother, I have noticed that the experience of creativity, the act of being creative is nothing other than play, a burst of curiosity that is driven by inspiration. The way I experience it has changed tremendously since recognising it as it comes without any judgement, I allow myself to just play and I let the process take me wherever I need to go.

What is a piece of advice you would like to pass down to your children?

Freyja: Daydreaming is good for you.

Josefin: Work with what gives you joy and meaning. Try not to only focus on money and wealth, time to do what you love is a luxury.

Josephine: Draw, draw, DRAW! You are never alone or bored with a sketchbook in your pocket.

What emotions do you hope to capture or evoke in your art when exploring motherhood?

Lucy: My practice is rooted in a personal narrative and mythology that draws upon relationships, memories, objects, and rituals that relate to the body and the home. I use clay to capture, evoke, and explore themes of vulnerability, intimacy, strength, tenderness and protection.

Josephine: Deep comfort - Both a very keen and sometimes painful love but also the quietness of small acts of familiar tenderness.

What is a misconception about motherhood you wish people would understand better?

Kanica: I guess it's the idea that once you become a mother, your personal identity and ambitions need to be sort of put on hold. There’s often this assumption that motherhood is a full-time, all-encompassing role that leaves little room for personal growth or pursuing individual passions. I feel that being a mother doesn't mean losing yourself, on the contrary, for me, it's more about finding new ways to grow, adapt, and integrate my identity as both a parent and an individual.
For me, being a mother has not only strengthened my creativity but also deepened my sense of purpose. Of course, motherhood is demanding, but it doesn't mean sacrificing who I am or what I love. Mothers are multifaceted individuals. It is possible to create art, follow your passions, and maintain a sense of self, while also being a loving and engaged parent. The two parts of my life - being an artist and a mother - can coexist and even enrich each other.

Josefin: I have 3 children, biological and adopted, the love is the same, and so is the longing for their arrival. So is the worrying and the joy you feel for them. All the same. I’m not sure people understand that.

Mafalda: Not a misconception but the romanticization of motherhood is something that I wish people were more conscious of. Being a mother is as everyone says it is, a magical experience but it is very hard. All of a sudden, you have become someone's home. That is a great thing but also the biggest responsibility, it takes a tremendous amount of emotional availability.

MOTHER'S DAY RECOMMENDATIONS

Artwork that represents motherhood?

Josephine: Chantel Joff, 'Self Portrait with Esme'.
Josefin: Frida Kahlo, 'Henry Ford Hospital' - not about motherhood, but about longing to have it and not having the privilege to experiencing it.
Kanica: Tracey Emin, 'The Mother', and Barbara Hepworth, 'Mother and Child'.
Lucy: 'Maman' or 'Ama' by Louise Bourgeois. I regularly visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao and always stop underneath Maman and take a moment to acknowledge her. Also 'Mother’s Pride' by Dennis Morris. The absolute tenderness captured in this photograph is so beautiful. I recognise that love - it's very powerful.
Freyja: An old drawing of mine, ‘Spinning Plates’ I drew when my second son was born.
Mafalda: I made a painting recently that I haven't finished, called "Mother and child". A literal depiction of a mother and a baby.

Favourite movie to watch on Mother's Day?

Josephine: '20th Century Women' (2016) by Mike Mills
Josefin: Lion (2016) by Garth Davis
Kanica: 'All About My Mother by Pedro Almodovar. Iconic movie.
Lucy: 'Mermaids (1990) by Richard Benjamin - the first time I can ever remember seeing the complexity of mother/daughter relationships played out on film - I was Winona!
Freyja: 'Nightbitch’ by Marielle Heller - a film based on Rachel Yoders book - Brilliant!
Mafalda: 'Tully' by jason Reitman

Favourite book about motherhood?

Josephine: 'The Argonauts', Maggie Nelson.
Josefin: 'Mamman och den vilda bebin'/ 'The mother and her wild baby', Swedish children’s book.
Kanica: 'The Birth Space', Gabrielle Nancarrow. A doula’s guide to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for all birthing families.
Lucy: Khalil Gibran’s 'The Prophet'. It's not about motherhood but it's a favourite book given to me by my mother when I was a young teen. I treasure the words she wrote in it.
Freyja: Not about motherhood, but some beautiful and tender descriptions of the chaos, mess, and intimacy of life as a mother in 'Cider with Rosie' by Lorrie Lee.
Mafalda: 'The Three Mothers - How the Mothers of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation' by Anna Malaika Tubbs.

A song everyone should listen to?

Josephine: A Coral Room by Kate Bush
Josefin: I am sailing, it’s probably a romantic song, but to me this one is my mother.
Kanica: Cold Heart by Dua Lipa and Elton John. This is the song I was listening to in the car, on my way to hospital, to give birth to my first son Alvaro.
Lucy: Anything by Michael McDonald, Tina Turner or Sade reminds me of my mum!
Freyja: Saul by Frazey Ford
Mafalda: Oh my, I thought about this today! I cry every time I listen to Adele's My Little Love. I don't cry with love songs, I cry with songs about motherhood!