©Kate Izor

Today, we are continuing to look at the work of artists from the 2024 Review Santa Fe portfolio review event. Up next, we have Smother by Kate Izor.

Kate Izor is an artist whose work explores what we often fail to see, what we long for, and what we may choose to ignore, examining the dynamics of identity and social integration. She earned her BFA in Photojournalism from the Rochester Institute of Technology and continued her education as studio manager and photo assistant to Magnum photographer Bruce Davidson. Izor has held leadership roles as the Photography Programs Director at Maine Media Workshops and the Photography Director at the New York-based startup Maple. She has taught at Maine Media Workshops + College and the International Center of Photography in New York City. Since 2017, Izor has been the full-time photographer for Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, documenting live performances, producing promotional and editorial imagery, and contributing to two feature-length films. Her fine art photography has been widely exhibited across the United States and published internationally. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Follow Kate on Instagram: @kate.izor

©Kate Izor

Smother

Innate gratitude and pure joy sanctify good motherhood. For some, the consumption of new parenthood is cushioned by sweet coos and newborn baby smell. Devotion is upheld by self-sacrifice – “ She’s a natural. ” For others the doctrine of good motherhood smothers new parents with ideals, ousting the realities of depression, isolation and despondency. Motherhood is not new yet the spectrum of postpartum depression remains taboo. Time is long. The post-surgery scurry, football size baby in hand, off to grab a nursing pillow -breast is best!- when a ray of light exposes the Milky Way of dust encasing the entryway. It soon passes but a greater shadow of self-scrutiny remains. Cries alarm, milk dribbles. Hours are endless. Work and homelife norms transform into unscalable mountains of grief. Identity, ideals and confidence disintegrate. Shame and guilt settle in alongside thoughts of “What have I done?” A good mom would never. Detached, I watch the light shift subtly throughout the days, months, year. I have no right to be unhappy. Is it the hormones? When will this end? Will it end? How long has it been this way? Why can’t I do it all? What kind of feminist have I become? Can she feel my misery? It’s supposed to be natural. 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression in the year following childbirth. Unbeknownst to me, I was one of them. A look at my own experience, smother grapples with new motherhood, postpartum mythology, and the struggle for self-compassion. 

©Kate Izor

Daniel George: Your artist statement addresses the personal thoughts and experiences that prompted the creation of this work. Would you share more about how/when you began making these photos? When you knew that something was there?

Kate Izor: I started making this work when my daughter was born in May of 2020. I was struggling with the contrast of what I thought motherhood was supposed to be, and what it was for me. I had lost myself, and my only intent was to force myself to make photographs. I didn’t have a vision, I was just trying to process the messiness and misery. It took a long time for me to look at the photographs. After about 8 months, I shared the work with a friend and colleague and 2 things happened. First, sharing the work forced me to think about and process what I was making. Second, making images about how dark parenting can feel is important, despite the shame that comes with it. It took a few years until it was worthy of sharing, and by then I was able to look at smother not only as a personal documentation of struggle, but also an honest portrayal of postpartum depression. 

©Kate Izor

DG: One image we talked about during your review that still stands out to me is submit–with the baby lying arms outstretched, face covered in a burp cloth. For me, there is so much going on in that simple frame—noise, fatigue, compassion, despair, isolation… (I could keep going). I’m curious if during the image-making or editing process, were there certain qualities that you looked for in your images? There is something about the complexity of them that keeps me engaged.

KI: It was important to figure out how to show the pain of it. I started by shooting everything. It took some time to push beyond the visual facts of monotony and isolation, to try to show the weight of what I felt was my failure. It shifted away from the facts of parenting (multitasking) and toward the fatigue of parenting. Submit, the image you’re referring to is a good example, and I’m glad to hear it resonated in that way. I saw that moment countless times as most parents must, after putting my daughter down after burping her. Allowing for some movement was important to show both the softness and violence. She was vulnerable, and in a way—perhaps many—we were both forced to submit. 

©Kate Izor

DG: In your artist statement, you write that among other things, this work examines “new motherhood, postpartum mythology, and the struggle for self-compassion.” What sort of insights have you gained from all this?

KI: Good question. I’ve certainly gained more awareness and empathy. Now, when talking with expecting parents I feel an obligation to share a simple but essential message: it’s okay if it’s hard. If it becomes overwhelming, it’s not only ok but common, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Culturally, we tend to view postpartum experiences in a binary way: either you have postpartum depression and may want to harm your baby, or you’re simply tired and it’s all part of the “magical” experience of parenthood. There’s this false dichotomy where you’re either selfless and good, or selfish and bad, and it’s deeply frustrating. Social media, in particular, exacerbates this with a few exceptions. The truth is that postpartum depression, like parenting itself, is not a black-and-white experience. It’s complex, multi-faceted, and unique to every individual. It’s common, a broad spectrum of emotions and experiences, and it is treatable. There’s absolutely no reason someone should struggle with it in silence or feel like they’re alone. It never occurred to me that I was experiencing postpartum depression. In hindsight it sounds almost ridiculous, but I was consumed by shame, guilt, and self-loathing. Why didn’t I recognize it? Why did it take so long for me to acknowledge what was happening? Even more troubling, why didn’t my doctor ask or see the signs? 

©Kate Izor

DG: Another thing we discussed was the importance of amplifying these personal, yet universal experiences. How do you feel your photographs and this project helps break down the taboo surrounding something so commonly faced, yet too often suppressed?

KI: Postpartum depression affects 14% of new mothers, though it’s likely underreported, and the actual number may be higher. The impact extends beyond the individual as partners and children are also affected by it. Let’s talk about it, point at it, make work about it. In doing so we can normalize the experience of postpartum depression and show that it’s a reality that many people face. Sharing my story through images hopefully can help add to the conversation. 

©Kate Izor

DG: This body of work has led to the Menopause Project. Would you like to share more about that?

KI: Absolutely. The Menopause Project began when I was trying to conceive another child and I discovered I was in late perimenopause. I was unprepared for the emotional, physical, and mental changes—and shocked by the lack of accessible information and support. Menopause will directly affect more than half of the global population. Yet it remains one of the most under-studied, under-treated, and misunderstood aspects of healthcare. Many endure intrusive and debilitating symptoms that drastically affect their quality of life, often with minimal guidance or support from healthcare providers during this critical transition. I made a questionnaire to crowdsource experiences of menopause. The responses will inform photographs and text, exploring the physical, mental, professional, and social aspects of menopause. My goal is to make menopause more mentionable, giving voice to an underrepresented time in life. If you’ve experienced menopause and are open to sharing your story, please visit menopause-project.com and fill out the questionnaire. It takes about 15–20 minutes to complete. Already the responses have been eye-opening. I hope to gather a wide range of responses to reflect diverse experiences. Additionally, I’m developing a companion questionnaire for partners, which will be available soon. 

©Kate Izor

©Kate Izor

©Kate Izor

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©Kate Izor

©Kate Izor

©Kate Izor

©Kate Izor