Last dance, 2024

Alex Hodge   New & remarkable Artists

A rhythmic energy pulses through this ceramic sculpture. A female silhouette emerges from a swirling vortex of fire. The figure arches in a moment of intense movement. Her dark form contrasts sharply with the vibrant orange and yellow glazes. Vibrant hues suggest heat and passion. The craftsmanship transforms clay into a fluid expression of emotion.
Based in Georgia, the artist explores femininity through a lens of classical antiquity. She often references mythological archetypes to investigate strength and vulnerability. This artwork continues her fascination with the female body and narrative storytelling. The glossy surface enhances the swirling patterns of the flame. Every curve of the body conveys grace and power. The piece functions as a poetic fragment of a larger emotional journey. It captures a fleeting instant of physical surrender. The sculpted edge mimics the erratic shape of a blaze, grounding the composition in a vivid visual tension.

The flaming duo of Last Dance and Missing Muse draws attention to our current political and environmental climate. In Last Dance, we see the figure is not alone, as another pair of hands is grasped at the edge of the frame. Surrounded by calamity, the dancer twists and contorts to reach for another. She embodies the dissonance required to find joy and community in all circumstances, while the title suggests an inevitable, impending end. The Eat What's on Your Plate series is comprised of wall plates that draw on the history of blue and white pottery as symbols of wealth, elitism and consumerism. The plates beckon the viewer with brash red text reminiscent of Barbara Kruger's work. The title phrase is a play on words in several capacities, directing the audience to deal with what is at hand, while simultaneously admonishing the act of taking from others. They are all hand built using the slab method, and utilize underglaze painting, carving and transfers. Alex Hodge is an artist-ceramist primarily interested in creating work that juxtaposes the canon of Western art with the lived experiences of contemporary women. As a queer woman growing up in the rural south, she became familiar with the feeling of being on the periphery, spending her youth wandering the woods, collecting material for small sculptures and creating stories for herself. 

Hand-built plate with sgraffito. From the Blurb series.