Natalie Bruvels

The valorization of mothers – think of the archetype of Madonna and Child – does little to empower them. The word matriarchy sounds glorious – a society where care is foundational infrastructure. The pandemic, however, has made it painfully clear how far we must still go in truly prioritizing care. Drawing from recent theories such as Julie Stevens’ post maternal which reveals anxieties around care perpetuated by an active forgetting, This month's speaker will trace her journey as a (single) mother and painter pursuing graduate studies to ask what strategies may we use to remember what is actively being forgotten?

Natalie Bruvels is a multidisciplinary artist working primarily in paint. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Ottawa and is currently pursuing an MFA at the same institution. Her artistic research explores relational identity including representations of maternal figures and single motherhood in art through a matricentric, feminist lens. Her work can be found in the City of Ottawa art collection as well as many private collections. Natalie lives in Ottawa with her son.