Missing muse, 2025

Alex Hodge   New & remarkable Artists

This ceramic sculpture commands attention through its verticality and vibrant energy. The composition captures a dramatic clash between elements. Vivid orange flames surge upward from the base. They lick the surface in fluid, rhythmic waves. These warm tones contrast sharply with the deep green foliage crowning the piece. The organic shapes intertwine in a seamless dance of growth and destruction. 
The artist employs a mastery of glaze to create a luminous, glossy finish. This sheen enhances the depth of the saturated colors. Every curve speaks to a balance between strength and vulnerability. The vessel evokes the spirit of classical antiquities while remaining firmly rooted in a contemporary aesthetic. 
This artwork explores the tension between natural forces. The interplay of fire and flora suggests a cycle of renewal. It transforms a traditional ceramic form into a powerful narrative symbol. The precise execution reflects a high level of technical expertise in sculpture. The piece culminates in a clean, circular rim that anchors the swirling visual energy.

The flaming duo of Last Dance and Missing Muse draw attention to our current political and environmental climate. In Missing Muse, I draw from an ongoing series in my practice that features figures, namely women, atop narrow jars. In this iteration, the Muse has departed. As the Muse is canonically a source of inspiration for the Artist, her absence speaks to the dire nature of what we are living through. In juxtaposition with Last Dance, the question is "What will happen to us, once we have destroyed our humanity and our planet?" 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. 

Porcelain Jar with sgraffito. From the Blurb series.