This series examines the realities of modern motherhood through the lens of pop art and mid-century advertising imagery. I paint 1950s-style housewives—symbols of an idealized and unattainable domestic standard—paired with contemporary objects such as iPads streaming children’s videos or bags of fast food. These anachronisms highlight the disconnect between nostalgic expectations of motherhood and its present-day demands.

The brightly colored abstract backgrounds are created in collaboration with my young children, who are invited to play freely with paint before I layer the figures on top. This shared process reflects the chaos, joy, and constant negotiation of attention that define motherhood. The recurring redheaded figure functions as a self-portrait, representing the unrealistic societal standards and the internal pressure I place on myself as a mother to balance care, labor, and identity.

This series explores the pressure placed on mothers—particularly single mothers—to remain endlessly patient, capable, and composed within systems that offer little support.