A truly inspiring artist artist parent interview @artist_parent with Lauren McLaughlin @laurenlifeartandstuff, an artist from Aberdeen, Scotland.
Tell us about yourself?
I'm a multidisciplinary artist, curator/producer and part time Fine Art lecturer based in the North East of Scotland. I am a parent to my almost 20 year old son who recently moved out into his own flat, and I’m now navigating a whole new chapter in my parenting journey.
My work is largely autobiographical, often focusing on subjects which are still considered taboo such as single motherhood, childbirth, reproductive justice, mental health and economic inequality. Throughout my practice, I aim to make visible the underrepresented and undervalued experiences of mothering, caregiving and gendered work through a feminist lens. I'm also the founder of @spiltmilkgallery an organisation that I set up in 2018 to support artist m/others and empower local m/others in my community.
How has being a parent had a positive impact on your artistic practice?
If I hadn’t become a parent at such a young age, I don’t know if I would have become an artist. By society’s standards, I had already “failed” as a 20 year old unmarried mother living on benefits but that became really liberating and allowed me to forge my own path for me and my son, and live a creative life. Being a lone parent allowed me to be brave, to be more open minded about what an art practice might look like. As a parent, you have to be continually adapting to different situations and stages of your child’s development and this means your practice has to adapt with it. There is no room for ego, parenting keeps you grounded and resilient.
What are the challenges you have faced in your artistic practice being a parent?
I struggled to access a creative education as a young mother on a low income. I struggled for my work on the maternal subject to be seen and valued, and to keep making work when the pressures of everyday life felt too much. I struggled to take care of myself properly when I thought that everyone else’s needs should come first. The biggest challenge however has been financial. My status as a working class artist and single mother has meant that I’ve just not had access to the same opportunities or resources as many of my peers. Working multiple jobs (paid and unpaid) and doing everything in my power, yet still experiencing in-work poverty and not managing to give my son the quality of life he deserved was the hardest challenge, and my biggest source of maternal guilt.
Any advice for other Artist Parents and how they can continue to nurture their practice?
Be kind to yourselves and look after yourself because the neoliberal capitalist society we currently live in, certainly does not care for mothers! Find your community of support. I know I wouldn’t have survived without my village. Lastly, trust yourself, follow your authentic vision and be your own biggest fan because if you don’t value yourself and the work you are making then it will be hard for others to. The world needs your art, don’t give up on it!
Is there anything else you would like to say, share or promote?
Since 2018 I founded and ran @spiltmilkgallery to support the work of artist m/others through exhibitions, peer membership, online events, workshops, mentoring and socially engaged projects. I took a break due to burn-out and I'm now working on archiving the project and hope to create a publication. Help and advice needed!
Thank you to Lauren and Artist A & Artist B (collaborates with Jackie Haynes) for sharing their story and thank you for reading. If you would like to read more stories or for your work to be shared then follow and tag @artist_parent on Instragam.
Posted on Instagram 22th & 24th April 2025
