This piece establishes an intimate dialogue between the three-dimensionality of its medium and the flatness of its illustrated narrative. Through meticulous sgraffito and collaged transfers, the artwork subverts the historical gaze on the female body, granting it autonomy and a space of its own. The composition stands out for its chromatic contrast, where the floral background patterns coexist with geometric textures and a balanced palette of blues, blacks, and subtle pink tones. As a prime exponent of contemporary ceramic art, this wall sculpture plate transcends its utilitarian form, cementing itself as a compelling conceptual statement for any modern 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.
Explore this exquisite example of contemporary ceramic art and bring the narrative depth of Alex Hodge’s original artwork into your private collection.
Contemporary Ceramic Art - Eve in Repose, 2023. By Alex Hodge
Eve in Repose, 2023
From the Behind Closed Doors series
Hand-built plate with sgraffito and collaged transfers
Dimensions: 5 x 8.5 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.
