Mom at Work

1978–1984

Carrie Mae Weems

Associated Names
Carrie Mae Weems
Artist, American, born 1953
The artwork depicts a woman shown from the waist up, standing in a work environment. She is facing forward with a wide smile. Her hair is pulled back, and she is wearing a short-sleeved shirt with a logo. Around her, there are sewing machines and spools of thread, indicating a textile or garment production setting. The background is busy with other workers engaged in various tasks, and shelves filled with materials are visible. The image is in black and white.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund

  • Dimensions

    image (visible): 60.96 × 92.71 cm (24 × 36 1/2 in.)
    framed: 66.68 × 97.79 × 2.54 cm (26 1/4 × 38 1/2 × 1 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2022.108.1

  • Series Title

    Family Pictures and Stories

More About this Artwork

The artwork is a black and white photograph showing a scene with a central figure in motion, whose body is slightly blurred. The person is wearing a shiny, textured garment and glasses that reflect light. Their head is adorned with a headpiece. In the background, there are several other figures playing instruments. The setting is an indoor space with a grid-like ceiling and walls with circular cutouts. The lighting is dim.

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Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Carrie Mae Weems; PPOW Gallery, New York; (sale, Phillips, 6 April 2022, lot 49); (Deborah Bell Photographs, New York); NGA purchase, 2022.

Associated Names

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