michelle hartney: anarcha, betsey, and lucy, correcting history, unplanned parenthood, friedman’s curve, & mending: an act of love

artist info & virtual world themes

michelle hartney (she/her) is a Chicago-based artist and activist whose work engages deeply with issues of reproductive justice, gender, and healthcare in the United States. Through mediums like fiber, ceramics, wood, embroidery, and social practice, she creates projects that address critical topics such as obstetric abuse, postpartum PTSD, gender-affirming care, and the impact of racism and misogyny on maternal health outcomes in America. Her art not only highlights these pressing issues but also invites public discourse and advocacy for change. Her interest in using art to address social issues began during her graduate studies in art therapy at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Hartney often offers cathartic actions for viewers to participate in. She has collaborated with the ACLU, Improving Birth, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, & Neonatal Nurses, and Birth Monopoly to raise awareness about reproductive health issues. In 2023 she collaborated with the free speech organization FIRE after her piece about the history of birth control was censored from an exhibition at Lewis Clark State college in Idaho after school administration determined it violated a state law that makes it a felony to use state funds to "promote" abortion.

Hartney has performed guerrilla activations at The Art Institute of Chicago and The Met, calling on cultural institutions to provide the truth about artists they represent and context about problematic work in their collections. Her work has been published in the New York Times, CNN, BBC Radio, The Guardian, Ms. Magazine, Vice, PBS, Women’s Health, Artnet News, and Hyperallergic.

The virtual world invites encounters with Hartney’s explorations of historical/ongoing obstetric violence, birth in/justice,  participatory art interventions/calls to action, and trans affirming care.

go to michelle hartney's website

instagram: @michellehartneyart

contact: info@michellehartney.com

how to explore the virtual worlds:

Currently, the virtual worlds are most compatible with Chrome and Firefox browsers (the interactive elements may not work with Safari). The worlds are also only compatible with desktop/laptop devices currently.

Navigate the environments using the W, A, S, D keys (to move forward, left, back, and right, respectively). Use the mouse to turn and look around/up and down (like the navigation of a PC game).


Press the escape key to move your mouse outside
of the environment window.

Each virtual world contains audio elements.

To activate the artist audio stories and caption videos, “walk” up to the pink exhibition icons, and the audio/visual content will begin.

You can pause the interactive content by moving away from the area, then return and resume.

participatory prompts

  • What are the connections between the experiences of Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy and pregnant people today?

  • How do Hartney’s methods and materials connect to the messages of each of her works?

  • Are there differences between healthcare and care, or healthcare and healing? How does Hartney explore these areas?

  • What are the barriers trans/non-binary youth face? Research ways to directly support trans/non-binary youth in your area and share what you found on the exhibition Discord or with friends.

  • Research issues related to obstetric violence in your area and share what you learned on the Discord or with peers.

recommended readings & resources