Alex Hodge

Tribute to Astarte and Her Spirit of Tenacity. Large Carved Porcelain Vase

2015

This vessel is one of the first from the series of pots Unsung Muses and prioritizes the narrative of Hatshepsut, as she was perhaps the most successful female pharaoh of Egypt. She brought prosperity and peace to Egypt through her work to improve infrastructure and trade routes. Her success was so great that her male successors attempted to erase her from history by literally chiseling her image off the walls and attempting to destroy all statues of her. By honoring her existence in this large vessel, I center the narrative of women’s power...

This piece recalls the art historical depictions of Mary Magdalene. Though she is often contextualized as the one who washed Jesus’s feet, Hodge centers her as the subject and asks “Who takes care of her?”. She answers with the scene of another woman washing her feet, which speaks to the ways that women’s care for one another is often unseen. The three series that make up her thesis show all center around the woman as an art historical trope who becomes a contemporary archetype of tenderness and tenacity with her own narrative. The tradition of the woman as muse or object is questioned and turned upside down as she gives her women the position of subject, i.e., the position of power. The jars, which uphold pairs of women, are the ultimate overturn of male dominance as she removes and replaces all male characters from famous artworks with women...

This piece 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 ...

Untitled #10 (female bust), 2016 from Los Infortunios De La Virtud series Antique porcelain bust with the intervention of oil, gold, silver, lea...

The ceramic sculptures of SunKoo Yuh are composed of tight groupings of various forms including plants, animals, fish, and human figures. While Korean art, Buddhism, and Confucian be...

The ceramic sculptures of SunKoo Yuh are composed of tight groupings of various forms including plants, animals, fish, and human figures. While Korean art, Buddhism, and Confucian be...

The ceramic sculptures of SunKoo Yuh are composed of tight groupings of various forms including plants, animals, fish, and human figures. While Korean art, Buddhism, and Confucian be...

Yeonsoo Kim, "Sweet Home," 2024, Porcelain moon jar,, colored clay, underglaze, 15 × 14 × 14 inches Korean ceramic artist Yeonsoo Kim masterfully blends the ancient Onggi tradition with bold, contemporary expression, crafting pieces that chronicle his personal and artistic journey. Drawing inspiration from Korea’s rich ceramic heritage, he redefines Onggi, a centuries-old practice originally used for functional pottery, by infusing it with vibrant colors, unconventional forms, and playful, stylized motifs. His hand-shaped vessels and sculptures become dynamic, modern narratives that capture his thoughts and experiences in clay. Kim’s technique involves spontaneous surface decoration using Sgraffito and calligraphy brushing, resulting in intricate designs featuring whimsical figures, animals, and objects. His work is driven by memories, relationships, and emotions, evolving organically without preplanning, embracing "freedom over perfectionism." Through his reinterpretation of Onggi, Kim merges tradition and modernity, offering a fresh expression of cultural storytelling in each piece. Working with both porcelain and iron-bearing clays, he tailors each material to the expressive qualities of his designs, revitalizing a millennia-old craft for the modern era. Yeonsoo Kim states, "My work serves as a canvas for a diverse cast of characters, engaging in silent conversations that speak volumes through their nuanced expressions. These characters, often resembling self-portraits, invite viewers into a world where implied images and narratives converge. My work reflects my ongoing quest for artistic identity by exploring the intricacies of daily existence. I delve into the depths of human emotion through recurring motifs, transforming abstract inner experiences into tangible visual realities." Yeonsoo Kim earned a BFA in ceramics and glass from Hongik University in Seoul, an MFA in ceramics from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia, and has held apprenticeships with master Onggi artisans Hayngjong-Oh in Jeolla-do and Jinkyu Huh in Gyeongsang-do, Korea. In 2020, Kim was recognized as one of the top six Emerging Artists by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA). His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently being selected for the prestigious 12th International Ceramics Biennale Competition at the Korea Ceramics Foundation in Gyeonggi. Kim has participated in several artist residency programs, including the Korea Ceramic Foundation, Montana State University, the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, FL, and the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. ceramic sculpture...