About the Installation
Womantree is a large-scale art installation first created for
Burning Man 2014 by artist and sculptor Valerie Mallory and
illustrator and concept designer Mikell Haynes. During its premiere
at Burning Man in 2014, it was the subject of an iconic photo series
by Scott London and featured in his book, "Burning Man: Art on Fire."
Since then, Womantree has been exhibited at events in Utah,
Sacramento, and San Francisco. In 2024, it returned to Burning Man
for its 10-year anniversary as an Honorarium Art Grant Selection with its own garden and entry portal.
Check out our Facebook Page for additional project information and images.
Philosophy
Womantree explores themes of unity, resilience, and
intergenerational connection in the stories of women.
The stories are about birth, growing up, childbearing and dying. The
stories tell about one's mother, and mothers' mother. The tree
reflects the wisdom, nurturing, and care of countless generations of
women with the burdens and miseries they bore. The tales of the tree
are poignant and wondrous, yet full of terrors as well.
As the tree grows, it twists, sprouts, drops roots while part of it
simultaneously dies. It pushes through rocks to find grounding and
aims doggedly toward sunlight. Clearly, this is the struggle of all
living things. This reflects a broader connection to all ecology and
life.
“One must grow where one's planted.” Through Womantree, we see a
reflection of our own process of being in this world.
Figures of Womanhood
The figures that inhabit Womantree evoke the varied experiences of
womanhood throughout the cycle of life. Some are curious and full of
wonder. Some are weathered and wise. Some reach out for help. Others
embrace and hold each other up.
The interplay of figures tell their own stories. The asymmetric,
organic growth of the tree parallels the crooked journey through
life, birth, growth and death.
Thanks for your support
Womantree was originally created by Valerie Mallory Art for
Burning Man 2014. For its 10-year anniversary, it returned to
Burning Man 2024 with support from a Burning Man Honorarium Art Grant. We're deeply grateful to the dedicated crew of builders,
volunteers, and financial donors who helped make this happen.
Thank you so much!
We've brought large-scale art installations to Burning Man every
year since 2014. Please swing by our studio site to learn more
about our work and see what we're up to now.