BELLA SMITH

I aim to explore the plight of women specifically regarding domesticity — what is expected of us in this modern world? How do I know what I want—and what happens when I don’t? My work blends the dichotomy of the idyllic beauty of domesticity that I crave and the impending imprisonment that I fear awaits me if I choose this path. My pieces have soft beauty to them that is either hidden, imprisoned, or on display. The combination of domestic responsibilities and the mental angst of an unhappy mother/wife are often depicted in multiples of transformed everyday objects. There is a consistent nod to "traditional women's work" via weaving, sewing, and crocheting, often frozen in a moment by translating soft materials into fired ceramics.

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 I use these flexible materials to explore different elements of gender roles and physical and emotional labor in the home. The symbols that show up in my work are often daily objects associated with the roles women take on—homemaker, mother, wife—therefore toilets and cleaning appliances such as vacuums are often present. I showcase them as the oppressive objects they have become in our society while confronting the future that could be in store for me. Common shapes such as squares, grids, and repeated circles have appeared to symbolize oppression and emptiness. Additionally, I make use of fertility symbols and common phrases to make commentary on the objectification/sexualization of women and the expectation that they become mothers. Incorporating self-portraits in my work allows me to explore my feelings of entrapment, gendered expectations, and emotional exhaustion in a darkly humorous way. All my sculptures thus are a form of self-portraiture expressed in objects, geometric shapes, and realistic renderings.