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03 Dec 2025

Art Mams is a roaring success at Visual - Kilkenny Live

The workshops run until December 11 and will resume in February

Art Mams is a roaring success at Visual - Kilkenny Live

As part of the Art Mams workshops, particpant Bernie Murphy created these ink prints based on a photograph with her son PICTURE: Brian Cregan

Reporter:

Mary Cody

02 Dec 2025 10:59 PM

Art Mams was launched by VISUAL in response to Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood: a landmark exhibition running until 11 January featuring over 60 Irish and international artists.
Over ten weeks, new mothers and their babies have been invited to participate in relaxed art classes every Thursday afternoon to make work about their experience of motherhood, while exploring themes in the exhibition, ranging from fertility to feeding.
VISUAL Learning Curator, Clare Breen, explains that the idea of a class for new mothers was “brewing for a long time”, with Acts of Creation proving the perfect launchpad. Making it as accessible as possible has been a priority: no previous art experience is required, each class costs just €5 including all materials plus tea and coffee, while mothers are assured that there is no problem moving around, feeding or changing their babies during the workshops, with facilities all on site.
Focusing on process rather than perfection has also been key.
“Really, it’s just showing up, every week, making something together, with no agenda,” says Clare, who hopes that a positive experience will encourage participants to explore their own creativity outside of the workshops.  
“It just flicks a switch a little bit so you’re looking more carefully in your daily life,” she explains. “And I think being engaged visually in the world is the first step of having more creativity in your life.”
Art Mams is facilitated by artist, and mother, Marian Balfe, who also runs the early years programme at VISUAL. Taking inspiration from Acts of Creation, she has gently guided participants through everything from still-lifes inspired by the contents of their nappy bags, to self-portraits challenging the Renaissance ‘Madonna’ image of motherhood.
Marian believes that creating space for new mothers to reflect and connect is as important as the work that emerges.
“It’s so important that they have a chance to make work when they’re in the thick of it, on maternity leave, to stop for a minute and not think with your head, but more with your hands and just make something and see what comes out,” she says.
“Even if you’re physically exhausted, emotionally exhausted: I still think that there’s such value in using your hands and making something.”
Art Mams will run until December 11, but such has been the response that workshops will resume in February 2026 in conjunction with VISUAL’s spring programme. Pre-booking is essential at https://visualcarlow.ie/whats-on/art-mams 

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