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.
