A Mother’s Day Show — A Solo Exhibition by Toronto Artist Rachael Grad

I’m excited to share my new solo exhibition, Motherhood Unbound: A Mother’s Day Show, presented by Boom Contemporary and now live on Artsy. This online exhibition brings together two major bodies of work—“Mommy Mayhem” and “Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train”—each exploring different facets of the emotional and psychological experience of motherhood.

As a Toronto contemporary artist, I’ve spent the past year developing these series, focusing on the complex stories found within domestic spaces. Through expressive colour, layered textures, and symbolic objects, the exhibition highlights how everyday environments can hold deep emotional meaning and reflect the realities of caregiving.

Exploring the Emotional Landscape of Motherhood

Motherhood Unbound examines the full spectrum of maternal experience: tenderness, exhaustion, joy, responsibility, identity shifts, and the quiet moments that often go unseen. Rather than idealizing motherhood, the exhibition embraces its contradictions and complexities.

“Mommy Mayhem” Art Series

The Mommy Mayhem series captures the chaos, humour, and unpredictability of raising children. These abstract paintings highlight the constant movement, scattered toys, and emotional intensity that define daily family life. Mommy Mayhem is a vibrant, gestural painting series that grew out of documenting my three children and the constant messes, movement, and energy that filled our home during the pandemic. What began as observational drawings and paintings from life evolved into a layered creative process that mirrors the chaos and beauty of raising kids.

Each work in the series starts with sketches and paintings made in real time—capturing toys scattered across the floor, colourful crafts, books, clothing, and the perpetual motion of childhood. I then combine up to 65 layers of these observational artworks in Photoshop to create digital collages. These collages become the foundation for expressive, abstract‑representational paintings that blur the line between lived moments and artistic interpretation.

The bright, saturated colours are pulled directly from children’s objects and environments, creating a palette that feels playful, loud, and full of life. Through repeated marks, movement, and layered acrylic and oil paint, the works echo the emotional and physical mayhem of motherhood—simultaneously overwhelming and joyful.

By merging representation and abstraction, Mommy Mayhem captures many moments of childhood at once. The paintings become visual records of family life: messy, colourful, exhausting, imaginative, and always in motion.

“Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train” Series

"Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train" is an abstract painting series created using toy trains as paintbrushes, a deliberate and symbolic choice that reflects the profound impact motherhood had on my life and art practice. When I became a mother, toys quickly overtook my home—and eventually my studio—reshaping not only my daily routines but also the direction of my artwork. This series embraces that shift by transforming a familiar children’s object into a tool for mark‑making.

Rolling small toy trains across paper and canvas becomes both a metaphor and a physical experience. The sweeping gestures required to move the trains—often while standing or kneeling—mirror the physical strain and repetitive motions of caring for newborns. The process is unexpectedly tiring, echoing the aches, exhaustion, and constant movement of early motherhood.

The resulting works range from playful, colourful compositions to darker, more intense pieces, reflecting the 24‑hour nature of mothering—the joy, the chaos, the fatigue, and the emotional duality that defines the role. Each line created by the train’s wheels becomes a record of motion, labour, and transformation.

By reversing the traditional relationship between artist and tool—turning a ubiquitous toy into a paintbrush—this series captures the collision of motherhood and creativity. "Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train" is both a personal narrative and a broader commentary on how caregiving reshapes identity, space, and artistic practice.

A New Collection of Contemporary Paintings

This exhibition marks an important moment in my ongoing exploration of motherhood in contemporary art. Each piece invites viewers to look closely at the symbolism within domestic environments—rocking horses, toys, chairs, and familiar rooms become visual entry points into memory, identity, and emotional labor.

For collectors and art enthusiasts, Motherhood Unbound offers a cohesive and meaningful series that speaks to themes of family, resilience, and the evolving role of mothers in modern society.

Presented by Boom Contemporary on Artsy

I’m grateful to partner with Boom Contemporary, whose thoughtful curation brings this series to a wider audience. Hosting the exhibition on Artsy allows viewers from around the world to explore the work, learn more about the themes, and collect original paintings directly through the platform.

🔗 View the full exhibition on Artsy

Thank You for Your Support of My Original Artwork

Thank you to everyone who continues to support my artwork and creative practice. Motherhood Unbound: A Mother’s Day Show is a celebration of the many stories that shape us, and I’m honoured to share this exhibition with you.