Contemporary Art Exhibitions Explore Motherhood and Care Work Since 2010s

The art world has increasingly focused on motherhood and care as central themes since the 2010s, with numerous exhibitions and publications examining these subjects. Key exhibitions include Marni Kotak's 2011 live birth performance at Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn, the Fondazione Nicola Trussardi's 2015 survey 'The Great Mother' in Milan, and Alice Neel's 2021 retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Other notable shows include 'Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood' at London's Southbank Centre through 2026 and 'Designing Motherhood' at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. These presentations reflect broader societal concerns about care, vulnerability, and reproductive justice, often highlighting artists who integrate domestic labor into their practice.