It was when Weems’ daughter was older that she found greater stability and direction, earning a degree from the California Institute of Arts in 1981, and an MFA from the University of California in 1984. Later, Weems tried to move to New York with her young daughter bundled on her back and her belongings in a cardboard suitcase, but the challenge proved too difficult and again, it was her family who propped her up.Ĭarrie Mae Weems, Untitled (Woman and daughter with makeup) (from Kitchen Table Series), 1990 Her close-knit family in Portland, Oregon were Weems’ bedrock, and it was an aunt and uncle who took care of Weems’ child while she ran off to San Francisco to be a dancer. Although she unexpectedly fell pregnant and found herself a single mother at just 16 years old, her desire to pursue a career never wavered. Weems followed a less than straightforward path towards success. She describes her imagery as, “the battle around the family…monogamy…and between the sexes.” These challenges and the intimacy of her family relationships are writ large over much of her photographic work, from her early years as a documentary image maker, to her more recent conceptual ponderings. Perhaps it’s no surprise then, that Weems became a mother at a young age, and relied heavily on her family to help her raise her daughter while pursuing a career as an artist. In her deeply emotive imagery, she examines how our social relationships define who we are, and give us a sense of belonging in an increasingly uncertain world. Carrie Mae Weems, Mother with Children, from Boardwalk, Santa Monica, 1980–82Ĭarrie Mae Weems is one of the most radical photographers to emerge out of contemporary America.
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