Mary Sauer
MARY SAUER
Contemporary Motherhood 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
In her artist statement Mary Sauer writes, “I am interested in the pressure of perfection that we face in today’s social structure.”
In this painting three modern women interact to varying degrees with the children in the composition. Some want children and a “picture perfect” family while others do not have the desire for children and want to focus on their goals and careers. All three women must grapple with contemporary motherhood and society’s expectations for them. Which woman do you relate to?
Contemporary Motherhood 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
In her artist statement Mary Sauer writes, “I am interested in the pressure of perfection that we face in today’s social structure.”
In this painting three modern women interact to varying degrees with the children in the composition. Some want children and a “picture perfect” family while others do not have the desire for children and want to focus on their goals and careers. All three women must grapple with contemporary motherhood and society’s expectations for them. Which woman do you relate to?
MARY SAUER
Genevieve 2010
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
While working in New York City, the artist noticed that none of the women she worked with were mothers, even if they were married. But, they all seemed to have cats and embraced their maternal instincts with their pets. For Sauer, the cats in this portrait represent this trend: young women forgoing childen to focus on their career. This is important to the artist because she decided to have children and continue working as a professional artist. She found a way to make both work.
Genevieve 2010
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
While working in New York City, the artist noticed that none of the women she worked with were mothers, even if they were married. But, they all seemed to have cats and embraced their maternal instincts with their pets. For Sauer, the cats in this portrait represent this trend: young women forgoing childen to focus on their career. This is important to the artist because she decided to have children and continue working as a professional artist. She found a way to make both work.
MARY SAUER
Maddie 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
“In order to be seen by others we have to put our best face forward. We present a picture of ourselves that conveys an idea to others of who we are.” – Mary Sauer, Artist’s Magazine, 2014
How has Sauer depicted her subject in this painting? What image is the woman trying to project? How do you present yourself to others? How do you want to be perceived?
Maddie 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
“In order to be seen by others we have to put our best face forward. We present a picture of ourselves that conveys an idea to others of who we are.” – Mary Sauer, Artist’s Magazine, 2014
How has Sauer depicted her subject in this painting? What image is the woman trying to project? How do you present yourself to others? How do you want to be perceived?
MARY SAUER
Expectations 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
For Sauer, this piece is about “shedding the pressures that we place upon ourselves to be what we think others expect us to be.” For Sauer it was specifically about the pressure she felt as a young woman deciding when to have children, and how many children to have. She struggled for years until she let go of the expectations and found freedom in her own decisions.
How is the woman in the painting letting go of societal expectations? How is she living up to them? Can you remember a time you let go of societal expectations? How did it feel?
Expectations 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
For Sauer, this piece is about “shedding the pressures that we place upon ourselves to be what we think others expect us to be.” For Sauer it was specifically about the pressure she felt as a young woman deciding when to have children, and how many children to have. She struggled for years until she let go of the expectations and found freedom in her own decisions.
How is the woman in the painting letting go of societal expectations? How is she living up to them? Can you remember a time you let go of societal expectations? How did it feel?
MARY SAUER
Heather with Dishes 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
The dishes in the lower left corner of the painting are precariously positioned. One bump of the table and they could all fall down. To Sauer this represents the instability of the masks we wear and roles we play to appease social and cultural expectations.
What is the relationship between the woman and the dishes on the table? How does she feel about the role she is playing? Think of a time you felt like you were playing a role to appease someone. How did it feel?
Heather with Dishes 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
The dishes in the lower left corner of the painting are precariously positioned. One bump of the table and they could all fall down. To Sauer this represents the instability of the masks we wear and roles we play to appease social and cultural expectations.
What is the relationship between the woman and the dishes on the table? How does she feel about the role she is playing? Think of a time you felt like you were playing a role to appease someone. How did it feel?
MARY SAUER
Mary Sinner 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
All of Sauer’s pieces in this exhibition deal with women’s roles and identities. In this portrait of her friend and fellow artist, Mary Sinner, Sauer explores the chaos of domesticity. The combination of multiple colors, textures, and objects symbolizes the messiness of managing a household, a job that is traditionally assigned to women. Sauer’s portrait explores the tension between societal expectations and reality in women’s lives.
What colors, textures, and objects can you find in this portrait? What do you think the figure’s relationship to this interior is? How does she feel about the craziness surrounding her?
Mary Sinner 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
All of Sauer’s pieces in this exhibition deal with women’s roles and identities. In this portrait of her friend and fellow artist, Mary Sinner, Sauer explores the chaos of domesticity. The combination of multiple colors, textures, and objects symbolizes the messiness of managing a household, a job that is traditionally assigned to women. Sauer’s portrait explores the tension between societal expectations and reality in women’s lives.
What colors, textures, and objects can you find in this portrait? What do you think the figure’s relationship to this interior is? How does she feel about the craziness surrounding her?
MARY SAUER
Mary Sinner 2 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
Sauer painted these portraits of Mary Sinner soon after she stopped working for contemporary artist Jeff Koons in New York City. Koons’ work is loud, bright and colorful. As Sauer painted them she was trying to figure out her own identity and personal voice. She was trying to find colors, textures, and patterns that were interesting to her. Her identity as a woman was also shifting. She was wrestling with the fact that she was going to be a working mother but she was not going to be a traditional housewife.
Have you gone through a time where your identity was shifting? How did you find your own voice?
Mary Sinner 2 2014
oil on canvas
Courtesy of the Artist
Sauer painted these portraits of Mary Sinner soon after she stopped working for contemporary artist Jeff Koons in New York City. Koons’ work is loud, bright and colorful. As Sauer painted them she was trying to figure out her own identity and personal voice. She was trying to find colors, textures, and patterns that were interesting to her. Her identity as a woman was also shifting. She was wrestling with the fact that she was going to be a working mother but she was not going to be a traditional housewife.
Have you gone through a time where your identity was shifting? How did you find your own voice?