The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has opened a new exhibition titled 'Mother,' curated almost entirely from its existing collection. The show traces the experience of motherhood from the 15th century to the present, beginning with a juxtaposition of Giovanni Toscani's Madonna and Child and a 1998 birth mat by Elizabeth Birritjama Ngalandjarri. Co-curators Sophie Gerhard and Katharina Prugger organized the exhibition around the 'life cycle' of a mother, covering themes from matrescence to loss. It features works by artists including Kate Just, Kyra Mancktelow, Destiny Deacon, and Hannah Brontë, with a strong emphasis on First Nations perspectives and fiber arts.
The exhibition matters because it offers a distinctly local and inclusive framing of motherhood, incorporating Indigenous stories that have been absent from similar international shows. By drawing primarily from the NGV's own collection, 'Mother' demonstrates how institutional holdings can be recontextualized to address contemporary social themes. The show also highlights the historical overlap between craft and motherhood, elevating fiber arts and textiles as significant artistic mediums. This approach positions the NGV as a leader in curating socially relevant exhibitions that challenge traditional art historical narratives.