ARTIST STATEMENT
Ham and Hereditary is a series of self-portraits that explores my ambivalent feelings about my mother, childhood, body image, aging, and food. Each self-portrait features me set against a wallpaper background adorned with symbols representing my mother or nostalgia for my childhood. In this series, I confront my aging and overweight body. Overalls have become my go-to outfit, reminiscent of an ensemble my mother frequently wore. Food is a fraught subject for me. As a former competitive swimmer, my parents were obsessed with “helping” me reach an elite level. They, especially my mother, forced me to eat when I was not hungry and always required me to clean my plate. The phrase “fuel up” was commonly directed at me, though not at my siblings. Today, I struggle with food obsession and portion control, having lost the ability to know when I am truly hungry. For many, a holiday ham can reference family gatherings. For me, it also symbolizes my frustration with my mother and my struggles with food. On every visit, my mother prepares a few specific celebration foods, including ham, which cannot be deviated from. I have realized these “safe foods” indicate my mother is likely autistic. While these themes are serious to me, I approach this exploration with humor. I enjoy contrasting seriousness with playful use of ham and goose imagery. Though I dread becoming my mother, I acknowledge that my silliness, love of kitsch, and many of my favorite attributes come from her.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
In 2022, my family and I relocated to Chicago, where we opted to reside with my sister’s family. Living with them provided a communal family experience, and the artistic discussions I had with my sister and brother-in-law, both artists, reignited my passion for art and sparked a new wave of creativity within our group. In 2023, I was honored to receive the Connect International Residency and to be featured in Suboart International Magazine. I have had the opportunity to exhibit my work at venues such as the Beverly Arts Center, Bridgeport Art Center, and Woman Made Gallery. My family and I currently live in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago. I am joined by my husband, two children, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and many pets.
© Katie Fountain