Olympia, 2019

Alex Hodge   New & remarkable Artists

Olympia 2019 Porcelain and gold 15 in x 5 in x 5 in. 

This piece is part of the Historic Jar Collection and recalls Manet’s painting of the same name. While Manet sought to confront the viewer with Olympia’s gaze, as she was a known sex worker, Hodge’s reinvention of the scene focuses on the connection between the two women in the scene. Instead of Olympia looking out for her next client, she is captured by this woman’s gesture of affection in the form of a bouquet. 

This artwork is a striking ceramic sculpture, showcasing a tall, elaborately decorated vessel topped with two monochrome figures. The figures, one reclining and the other standing, engage in a subtle, narrative interaction. Intricate patterns on the cylinder captivate the eye, featuring bold, symmetrical motifs in earthy tones of black and red. The artistry is exquisite, merging classical form with contemporary design elements. The figures' minimalist attire and poised expressions add an element of storytelling, inviting viewers to ponder their relationship and shared moment. The piece's artistic merit lies in its ability to weave tradition with innovative craft, creating a harmonious blend of texture and form. Set upon a discrete pedestal, the artwork commands attention, compelling observers to step closer and appreciate its intricate details and emotive presence.

Alex Hodge grew up on a blueberry farm in South Georgia where she learned the value of cultivating the earth. Currently based in Miami, Florida, Hodge focuses on prioritizing women’s narratives in all aspects of her work. Her poetic porcelain objects examine and reimagine the history of art in a way that values women, not only in body, but in wholeness, power, and love. By combining sculptural and drawn elements, such as carved and painted pattern, her works create a dialogue between space and line, form and surface for a dynamic viewing experience. Often limiting her color palette to black and white, she uses the carving technique called sgraffito to incise her pieces with drawings, her own text, and pattern. Focusing on the narrative qualities of art making, Hodge weaves stories into the clay which are both personal and universal. Through the decorative and symbolic details, she hints at narratives without completing them to invite the viewer to participate in creating meaning. The women she invents exist in the present but are of the imagined future in which we all have room to flourish, to tell our stories, to give and receive love, and to express the beauty and pain of the human condition. Fundamentally, her artworks are a celebration of the tenacity and vulnerability of women and clay, an interplay of history and hope.