Domestic Duties of the Ghost:

A Solo Exhibition by Kristen Donoghue-Stanford

September 12–October 6

A tongue and cheek installation of the artist as a ghost in her own haunted house, performing her weekly ritual of cleaning the house. Such tasks include scrubbing toilets, vacuuming, mopping, laying in bed in crisis, and doing laundry. A homage to the ever persistent need to DO something and the desire to leave behind evidence of ourselves, even if just within our own home. That we were here, existed, worked, created, without witness or acknowledgement. A satirical glance upon the “invisible” labour that is often expected of women in domestic settings, we must question if the work done for the home was paid, respected, understood, and valued, would society be able to function carrying the cost? Or is it easy to be exploitative rather than adapt towards equity? The “Ghost”, this invisible and singularly motivated entity is showcased with depth, humanity, and understanding. There’s a haunted house inside all of us, it only makes sense that we accept we are a ghost living in it.

Providing a physical manifestation to the idea of invisible, unpaid, and emotional labour “Domestic Duties of the Ghost” grants insight into the alienation, otherness, and oddity of domesticity through humour as it answers the long-asked question “Do you think the house just cleans itself?”

Kristen Elizabeth Donoghue-Stanford (she/her) is a Canadian artist currently residing in Caledon, ON. She is a multidisciplinary artist who predominantly works in bronze casting, textiles, and installation. Her work currently researches by practice the Gothic and its relationship to societal views of femininity and womanhood. Influenced by feminist literature, Gothic fiction, and an abundance of horror films, she seeks to analyze womanhood and femininity as inherently Gothic and utilize it as a method to reclaim agency and autonomy. Donoghue-Stanford obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University in Toronto in 2020 and completed her Masters in Fine Arts from Chelsea College of Arts in London, England in 2021.

Please join us for the opening reception of Domestic Duties of the Ghost on September 14 from 1–4 pm. All are welcome!

Available Work

Hands Upon Hips, 2023, Palimpsest on Cotton with Embroidery and Pen, 160 x 140 cm, $300.00

Femininity Gothic Series, Bronze, $4000.00 (entire series)

Femininity Gothic (Series): Edith, Bronze, 0.2” X 5” X 9”, $900.00

Femininity Gothic (Series): Adeline, 0.5” X 7” X 10”, bronze, $400.00

Femininity Gothic (Series): Hester, 0.4” X 5” X 9”, $900.00

Femininity Gothic (Series): Lucille, 1” X 7” X 13”, $900.00

Femininity Named (Series), Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4” (each), $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Femininity Named (Series): Allison, Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4”, $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Femininity Named (Series): Asha, Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4”, $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Femininity Named (Series): Kesiya, Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4”, $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Femininity Named (Series): Liz, Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4”, $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Femininity Named (Series): Melanie, Bronze, 6” x 5” x 4”, $4500.00 (Series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Fine (1 & 2), Bronze, 3” X 3” X 5” (x2), $2500.00

Self-Portrait (Bra), Kristen Elizabeth Donoghue-Stanford, Bronze, 0.4” X 6” X 32”, $1,500.00

Weighted Favours, Bronze, 5” X 3.1” X 2.9” 6” X 2.5” X 2.7” 5.5” X 2.4” X 2.1”, $900.00 (Series), $350.00 per handkerchief

Womanhood Embroidered (Series): Gentle, Bronze, 5" diameter (x 2) and 6" diameter, $2,500 (series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Womanhood Embroidered (Series): Meek, Bronze, 5" diameter (x 2) and 6" diameter, $2,500 (series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Womanhood Embroidered (Series): Womanhood, Bronze, 5" diameter (x 2) and 6" diameter, $2,500 (series), $1000.00 per embroidery

Compacts, Bronze, $400.00 for set, $250.00 per compact

Mirror, Bronze, 12.5” x 4.5” x 1”, $900.00

Purse, Bronze and dance purse chain, 5.5” X 3” X 0.7”, $1000.00

Memories from 2021, Polaroid Picture and Microcrystalline Wax, 9 x 9 cm (3), $200.00 for series

Remaining, Sunglasses and Microcrystalline Wax, 13 x 13.5 x 5.5 cm, $200.00

Domestic Duties of the Ghost, Film, Duration: 5:03, 2024, Inquire for price.