Halsey’s new album art celebrates ‘pregnant and postpartum bodies’—and it’s a must-see

The cover art for Halsey‘s forthcoming album, the aptly-named “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power,” has been formally unveiled at The Met (!!!), and honestly, it’s a show-stopper. Not simply because the visual itself is stunning, but because of the powerful message behind it: normalizing pregnant and postpartum bodies, and combatting the stigma surrounding breastfeeding.

Halsey shared the inspiration behind her artistic choices in an Instagram post on Wednesday:

“This album is a concept album about the joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth,” she writes.

In the caption, Halsey explains that it was important to her that the album’s cover art conveyed the sentiment of her own journey with pregnancy during the past few months and the contrast between her womanhood vs. her motherhood.

“The dichotomy of the Madonna and the Whore. The idea that me as a sexual being and my body as a vessel and gift to my child are two concepts that can co-exist peacefully and powerfully,” she explains. “My body has belonged to the world in many different ways the past few years, and this image is my means of reclaiming my autonomy and establishing my pride and strength as a life force for my human being.”

She unveiled the album’s cover art at The Met Fifth Avenue in New York City. In the video of the unveiling, Halsey is seen walking through The Met barefoot, wearing a golden robe draped over her body in an artistic nod to the cover itself.

HALSEY UNVEILS ALBUM ARTWORK AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

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“This cover image celebrates pregnant and postpartum bodies as something beautiful, to be admired,” she concludes in her Instagram post. “We have a long way to go with eradicating the social stigma around bodies & breastfeeding. I hope this can be a step in the right direction!”

It’s a beautiful work of art with a powerful message that embraces pregnant and postpartum bodies, and the way those bodies are designed to feed children. Bravo, Halsey!