In just a few weeks, an expansive retrospective of Paula Rego’s groundbreaking work will open at Tate Britain. Much of the Portuguese-born artist’s oeuvre is rooted in a sociopolitical context. In her powerful series, Abortion Pastels, made in response to Portugal’s 1998 referendum on legal terminations, Rego “pulls back the curtain on illegal abortions” with unflinching candour, writes Eloise Hendy in a new feature for Elephant—a vital moment for the representation of the subject in art. Discover more about the enduring impact of these portraits, and Hendy’s belief that the art world stills needs to do more to lift the shame and secrecy shrouding abortion, here.
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