Mum by Stella Metcalfe

Mum captures an ordinary moment that feels instantly familiar. My mother is standing in the kitchen, talking on the phone while managing everything else that needs to happen around her. It’s a scene I’ve witnessed countless times, yet it’s easy to overlook how much responsibility is carried in moments like these.

Through this portrait, I wanted to recognise the mental and emotional load that so often accompanies motherhood. While the work is deeply personal, it also reflects the experiences of many mothers whose care, organisation and support form the foundation of family life, often without recognition.

I was inspired by Liberty Leading the People, using a triangular composition to place my mum firmly at the centre of the painting. More than anything, though, I wanted to celebrate the quiet strength, resilience and constancy that I see in her every day.