Anonymous Women

"Anonymous Women"

from Saturday, January 31, 2026 to Saturday, March 7, 2026

Galerie XII Paris

Based in Chicago, Patty Carroll has been exploring the complex themes of femininity, identity, and domestic life since the 1970s. The Anonymous Women project lifts the veil in an absurd and theatrical way on the world of the “housewife”—a figure that is both emblematic and invisible. While the traditional model of this role has evolved in the modern era, its legacy remains deeply rooted in contemporary culture. Patty Carroll's work is as captivating as the images she produces. She starts with an idea that she sketches out, carefully considering colors and patterns to optimize the visual impact. She then builds full-scale sets in her studio, complete with furniture, wallpaper, household objects, and a mannequin. She does very little post-production—only color correction—because the magic lies in the physical construction. Each image is essentially a staged scene captured in a single shot. Affirming her taste for surrealism and humor, Patty Carroll transforms the everyday into the absurd. Her visual satire invites us to laugh, grimace, and reflect on the ever-present and evolving idea of the “housewife.” Anonymous Women offers an incisive critique while taking an empathetic look at the lives lived behind closed doors around the world.