Childsplay (2022-24)
Coloured pencil drawing in A5 sketchbook; Lego frame; 19 x 25.5 x 2.8cm
After my son was born, I spent years trying to keep my role as an artist separate from my family life, afraid that I’d be considered unprofessional, unserious, ditsy and distracted by baby things. I juggled the two roles, constantly feeling like I couldn’t give enough to do either properly. Only after the death of my own mother in 2021 did I radically reevaluate my identity, gradually allowing my birthing and parenting experiences to inspire my art practice. This drawing from 2022 of my then 5 year old son’s Lego model was a tiny part of that journey.

I didn’t want to remove it from the sketchbook, as it has other drawings on the reverse, so I asked my son if I could use his Lego to construct a frame for it, and I made this over the Summer holidays with his help. Exhibited as part of Moonlighting: A Bit on the Side; APT, London, UK.

Constellations of care

Love stories