Exhibit With Focus On Breastfeeding Artwork Opens In Gowanus

GOWANUS, NY — A new Gowanus show will focus on artwork depicting mothers breastfeeding their children, and the impact on their lives, in an effort to normalize the practice, curators said.

"The Art of Breastfeeding" opens Saturday at the MF Gallery, 213 Bond St., with painting, sculptures and more by 25 artists from around the world on the subject of breastfeeding.

"It's a topic that needs to be explored more," said co-curator Leigh Pennebaker, a mother of three who runs the Instagram page @breastfeedingart. "There’s a lot of rich feminist activism going on in the world of mothers and there needs to be more conversations."

The show will be open by appointment only after Saturday and features new and old pieces from artists including SWOON, Tara McPherson, Nicoz Balboa, Jess Dobkin and more.

"It's a lot of different mediums and different approaches to this subject matter," said co-curator Martina Secondo Russo, owner of the MF Gallery.

Pennebaker started her popular Instagram feed several years ago as a way to show that breastfeeding isn't some new trend for mothers, but a normal practice that has dated back for centuries.

"I like looking back to the past and saying 'it’s actually not [trendy] and it’s just part of being a human,'" said Pennebaker. "This something that is an historical, normal thing."

She said she was struck by just how many women explored and continued to explore the topic with their work and has posted nearly 3,000 pieces on her page so far, even inspiring some artists some to create their own.

Pennebaker hopes her feed and the new show help de-stigmatize the practice, where even though it's legal in most states to do in public, many women report being discriminated against when they breastfeed outside of their homes.

"I have been confronted while breastfeeding in public and yelled at and been told 'You should cover up,'" Pennebaker said. "It's very emotionally impactful in a bad way."

"It's hard enough to learn how to do it and feel confident enough to do it in public," Russo added. "And if you get told that it’s not O.K., it makes such a big step backwards."

The gallery also plans to donate portions of sales of the artwork to the La Leche League International, a non-profit that gives training on breastfeeding and runs support group for mothers.

"The Art of Breastfeeding" will have an opening reception on Saturday, March 10, from 7 to 10 p.m. The exhibit will be open by appointment only after that until April 22.

Image: "La Mamma Del Latte" by Martina Secondo Russo, used with permission.