Would You Say That to Your Mother?​

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September 2018

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In Would You Say That to Your Mother? multidisciplinary artist Haley Eyre confronts everyday sexism by pairing offensive phrases women hear daily with imagery of the Virgin Mary. Drawing from classical art, she photographs herself with halo lighting and Mary’s traditional blue, white, and red garments. But
this Mary isn’t passive—she responds with disapproval, disgust, and shock.

 

Eyre asks: “Would these men say these things to their mothers?” Using hand-cut letters in ransom-note style, she superimposes sexist phrases onto Mary’s sacred space, creating a stark contrast with the art-historical photography.

 

This collision—maternal reverence violated by casual misogyny— forces viewers to confront normalized sexism. The juxtaposition challenges us to see how language we tolerate would be unthinkable when directed at women we revere.

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Written by Tak Pham