The Nipple Project

In the Spring of 2018, CMU School of Art undergraduate October Lane Donoghue put out a call throughout Pittsburgh for female-identifying individuals to come to her studio and have their nipples cast. Donoghue writes: “My goal for the project was to have a final installation of 100 metal nipples, but the end product far surpassed my expectations resulting in an installation of distinct 250 nipple casts from 125 participants ranging in age from 18 to 74. In casting female nipples in metal and displaying them publicly, I sought to challenge censorship laws surrounding the female body, symbolically evoke solidarity and strength, and create a space of celebration for my participants beautiful bodies. I am so grateful to the 125 women who shared in this experience and who shared their powerful stories with me along the way.”

The Nipple Project continues as The Nipple Workshops in collaboration with local Pittsburgh artist Sydney Davis, where female, trans, non-binary, and non-male participants can cast their nipples and add to the growing archive. The Nipple Project was made possible by support from the Frank-Ratchye Fund for Art @ the Frontier, Microgrant #2020-004.