NIKON AMBSSADOR’S NEW EXHIBITION LAYS BARE THE HIDDEN REALITIES OF PREGNANCY, MOTHERHOOD, AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
NIKON AMBASSADOR’S NEW EXHIBITION LAYS BARE THE HIDDEN REALITIES OF PREGNANCY, MOTHERHOOD, AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
A powerful new exhibition produced by acclaimed Nikon Ambassador, Carolyn Mendelhson, and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA), will open in London this November, shining a light on the often-overlooked realities of motherhood and mental health.
This is Also Motherhood: Portraits of mental health, strength and survival brings together intimate portraits and still life photographs, created with 10 women who have experienced a range of perinatal mental illnesses. Visitors will also be able to hear participants’ stories in their own words through linked audio interviews.
Having been a Nikon photographer for nearly two decades, Carolyn captured these striking images using her Nikon Z8 and Z9 cameras, paired with the versatile NIKKOR Z 24–70mm f/2.8, the luminous Z 50mm f/1.2, and the exceptional NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena lens. This combination of Nikon’s flagship mirrorless cameras and professional-grade lenses allowed Carolyn to create the intimate, nuanced imagery that reflects the complex emotions and realities of motherhood.
Perinatal mental illnesses affect as many as 1 in 4 women and birthing people, and 1 in 10 dads and non-birthing partners. Left untreated, they can be devastating and even deadly; with suicide persistently being the leading cause of death between six weeks and a year after pregnancy in the UK. Yet with the right support at the right time, recovery is possible.
Nikon Ambassador, Carolyn Mendelsohn, says: “I feel so honoured to have worked with these extraordinary women, who shared their stories with such honesty and courage. This commission gave me a rare chance, as an artist, to reflect on my own lived experience too. More than anything, I hope these portraits help open conversations, so others feel heard, supported, and know they’re not alone.”
Nikki Wilson, CEO of the MMHA, says: “We want this exhibition to be a reminder that while mental illness can be part of the journey to becoming a parent, it should never be a source of shame. The MMHA is immensely grateful to the ten women who shared their experiences with such openness. Their stories have the power to comfort parents who see themselves reflected and to challenge the silence that too often surrounds mental health struggles during and after pregnancy.”
Tessa van der Vord, project participant, says: “Taking part in this exhibition was both emotional and healing. As a midwife and woman who has lost a baby, I know how often these conversations are treated as taboo or kept in the shadows. The photoshoot gave me space to reflect on my own experience, reconnect with tangible memories of my baby, and help me feel close to him again. We need to break the silence and honour every story, which is exactly what ‘This is Also Motherhood’ is doing.”
The exhibition is part of the MMHA’s mission to raise awareness of perinatal mental illness and ensure that anyone affected has access to high-quality, compassionate care.
This is Also Motherhood: Portraits of mental health, strength and survival will be open to the public on 14, 17 and 18 November 2025 at Phillips, London.
Following its London debut, This is Also Motherhood hopes to tour the UK and will continue through a dedicated microsite and book, featuring contributions from MMHA Chair, Baroness Berger, Louise Thompson, and Dr Punam Krishan, among others. Proceeds from book sales will support the MMHA’s changemaking work.
About Carolyn Mendelsohn:
Carolyn Mendelsohn is an award-winning Nikon Ambassador, artist and photographer whose practice is rooted in telling stories and amplifying quieter voices through co-produced portraits. Her work has been selected, collected and exhibited internationally, within solo and group shows including at Impressions Gallery, the National Science and Media Museum, Imperial War Museums, Open Eye Liverpool, Portcullis House, the Royal Albert Hall, Galerie Huit Arles and UNESCO in Paris, and widely published. Carolyn is Artist in Residence for Born in Bradford, an Ambassador for Nikon Europe and one of the first ambassadors of the Royal Photographic Society.
About the Maternal Mental Health Alliance:
The Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is an award-winning charity and network of over 160 organisations, parents, and clinicians dedicated to ensuring all women, birthing people and families impacted by perinatal mental health problems have access to high-quality, compassionate care and support.
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