This captivating ceramic wall sculpture commands attention through its intricate visual narrative, using traditional sgraffito carving to etch fluid, expressive linework directly into the hand-built clay body. The composition frames an intimate domestic environment, juxtaposing a bold orange-and-white checkered backdrop with the rich, grayscale tones of the central figure. Positioned looking outward through an arched window toward a stylized green landscape, the subject reclaims her presence and agency. Hodge transforms what historically might have been an objectified gaze into an introspective sanctuary of personal belonging, making this unique ceramic piece a sophisticated and highly resonant addition to any contemporary art collection.
In this new series of wall sculpture plates, Behind Closed Doors, I reimagine source imagery from a book titled In Praise of the Backside. The book’s collection features women from behind, as captured most often by men, frequently untitled and anonymous. In my reinterpretation of these images, the women transcend their status as objects of line and shade, to become subjects with emotion, thought, and a place of belonging.
Ceramic Wall Sculpture - Seeking Solace 2023 from Behind Closed Doors by A Hodge
Seeking Solace, 2023
From the Behind Closed Doors series
Hand-built plate with sgraffito and collaged transfers
Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 0.25 in.
Hodge studied and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Ceramics, with notable exhibitions such as Unsung Muses and Eyes That Bind, graduating summa cum laude and receiving honors such as the Outstanding Undergraduate Award. Here, clay became the conduit that allowed her to speak of her experience and, more importantly, her frustrations. Always curious to acquire more knowledge and skills, she pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Miami. There she obtained the summer scholarship and the William Oberman Award, and graduated summa cum laude. During this time, she moved from expressions of anger to prioritizing love between women, the deep well of internal feminine landscapes and the historical exploration of women in relation to the present through ceramic material. Since then, her works have been exhibited at the Morean Arts Center, Arts Benicia and the Imurj Gallery, among others. She currently resides in rural Georgia, where she transforms her stories into sculptures that reveal what has been historically hidden.
