Date of Award
5-11-2025
Date Published
June 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Illustration
Advisor(s)
Meri Page
Keywords
Art;Childcare;Hierarchy of Needs;Mother-Artist;Motherhood;Self-Actualization
Subject Categories
Arts and Humanities | Fine Arts
Abstract
This thesis paper discusses the symbiotic relationship between the roles of mothering and being an artist and makes the case for why art made by mothers can have a lasting impact on both society as well as within the family dynamics of the artists’ lives. The obstacles that stand in the way of mothers pursuing art, or even pursuing becoming her full self, are many. This paper reimagines what the role of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs might look like from the lens of a caretaker, and how it can be an overall triumph for society from a wider perspective. This thesis argues that self-actualized mothers contribute authentic art and self-actualized children—two significant wins for the fabric of American society. Through the analysis of interviews with mother-artists and multiple studies on the experience of becoming a mother, this thesis demonstrates that when given the proper support, space, and respect, self-actualized mothers have the power to uplift everyone around them.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Caiella, Lottie Elizabeth, "IN FAVOR OF THE MOTHER-ARTIST: THE CASE FOR SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN MOTHERHOOD" (2025). Theses - ALL. 944.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/944
