Sawyer Rose
Sawyer Rose’s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with her personal experiences and a mission to shed light on gendered labor inequities. Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, as the middle child between two brothers, she grew up witnessing an old-school model of marriage where her father handled paid work while her mother took on the immense and often invisible burden of domestic labor. At the time, she didn’t question the division of responsibilities—it was simply the norm. However, years later, as she found herself juggling multiple roles—mother, wife, artist, graphic designer, and household manager—she began to see the imbalance with fresh eyes.
By 2010, with a toddler, an infant, and an ever-growing list of responsibilities, Rose was shouldering a significant amount of unpaid labor, much like her mother had before her. It wasn’t until she began discussing these struggles with friends and other parents that she realized how widespread the issue was. Women across different backgrounds echoed the same frustrations, feeling unseen and overburdened in a system that still defaulted caregiving, housework, and community labor to them. This realization prompted her to dig deeper, leading her to research the structural and economic forces at play.
Her findings were stark: Women in the U.S. still perform significantly more unpaid labor than men, averaging over four hours per day compared to 2.5 hours for men. The gender pay gap remains persistent, and when accounting for unpaid labor, women’s economic contributions would comprise roughly 25% of the U.S. GDP. Even community caretaking, such as volunteering in schools, nonprofits, and religious spaces, disproportionately falls on women, further limiting their time for career advancement or personal pursuits.
As an artist, Rose sought a way to translate this data—often confined to academic and policy circles—into something visual, visceral, and accessible. She wanted to spark conversations and create learning opportunities through art, and so The Carrying Stones Project was born. This data-driven sculptural series transforms real-world work data, gathered from a diverse sample of women, into large-scale installations that make the weight of their labor tangible.
Each sculpture in the series represents a woman’s actual work hours—both paid and unpaid—mapped into a physical form. To deepen the emotional impact, Rose photographs each subject holding or carrying their sculpture, symbolizing the burdens they bear. Some women appear resolute, standing strong beneath the weight, while others visibly strain, their postures reflecting exhaustion and imbalance. The imagery is powerful, forcing viewers to confront the often-invisible labor inequities present in their own lives and communities.
Through her work, Rose aims to foster recognition, empathy, and, ultimately, change. She hopes viewers see themselves, their mothers, partners, or colleagues in these sculptures and begin to notice unpaid labor where they hadn’t before. More importantly, she wants her work to serve as a call to action—an invitation for individuals and institutions to be part of the solution.
Balancing her creative practice with personal responsibilities has been an ongoing challenge—one that mirrors the very themes she explores in her work. The pressures of family, career, and unpaid labor have at times led to creative blocks and moments of overwhelm. Yet, she remains committed to using her art as a vehicle for advocacy, emphasizing that activism isn’t only about grand gestures but also small, meaningful actions that contribute to systemic change.
She offers several ways for individuals to begin leveling the labor playing field:
Acknowledge unpaid labor: Recognize it as real work that deserves respect.
Amplify women’s voices: Be mindful of how often women are interrupted or dismissed—redirect the spotlight back to them.
Mentor and sponsor women, especially women of color: Small acts of allyship, such as making introductions or sharing opportunities, can have a significant impact.
Advocate for policy change: Push for paid family leave, affordable childcare, and fair wages—systemic issues require systemic solutions.
For Rose, art is more than expression—it’s a tool for justice. By visualizing the invisible, The Carrying Stones Project invites viewers to engage in critical conversations about gender, labor, and equity. It is a striking reminder that when we create a fairer system, everyone benefits.
