Maman Statue

Louise Bourgeois’ extraordinary sculpture, Maman (Mother), is a 30-foot-tall spider crafted of bronze, marble, and stainless steel. It is one of six such spiders built by the acclaimed artist who was 95 at the time of their design. Part of the inaugural Unilever Series in the Tate’s Turbine Hall, Maman greeted the first visitors to the gallery in May 2000 and millions more while it was on display until December of that year. Maman is currently displayed outside of the entrance to the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, after being purchased by the Gallery for $3.2 million in 2005. Maman, according to Bourgeois, represents a female spider who carries her white marble eggs beneath her.