The Kitchen Table Series by Carrie Mae Weems is a collection of photographs that depict the complexities of black womanhood and family dynamics. This series, which was created between 1990 and 2000, has become a seminal work in contemporary art and has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world.Carrie Mae Weems: Kitchen Table Series
Featuring staged scenes of a woman (played by Weems herself) at her kitchen table, this series explores themes of identity, race, gender, and relationships. The use of the kitchen table as a backdrop adds a domestic and intimate element to the photographs, inviting viewers into the personal and private moments of the subject's life.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series
The first installment of the Kitchen Table Series was created in 1990 and featured 20 photographs. This initial collection set the foundation for the series, introducing the character and setting of the kitchen table as a central motif.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990
Over the course of the next year, Weems continued to add to the series, creating an additional 10 photographs. This expanded collection further delved into the complexities of the subject's relationships, including those with her partner, children, and other women in her life.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-1991
From 1990 to 2000, Weems continued to add to the Kitchen Table Series, creating a total of 62 photographs. This decade-long period saw the series evolve and mature, as the subject's story and relationships became more nuanced and layered.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000
In 2003, Weems added four more photographs to the series, revisiting the subject and her kitchen table after a three-year gap. These new additions further explored the complexities of motherhood and the dynamics of family relationships.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000, 2003
In 2004, Weems added another four photographs to the series, expanding the narrative and delving deeper into the themes of identity and representation. These photographs also marked a shift in the subject's age, as she aged along with the artist.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000, 2003-2004
The final installment of the Kitchen Table Series was created in 2006, with an additional five photographs. These final images brought the total number of photographs in the series to 75, and added a new layer of introspection and reflection.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000, 2003-2004, 2006
From 2006 to 2007, Weems revisited the series once again, adding three more photographs. These final additions to the series served as a conclusion, allowing the subject to reflect on her past relationships and experiences.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2007
The last photograph in the Kitchen Table Series was created in 2009, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long project. This final image served as an epilogue, bringing the series full circle and providing closure for the subject and viewers alike.Carrie Mae Weems: The Kitchen Table Series, 1990-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2007, 2009