Charlotte Hodes’ practice as an artist takes the form of painting, collage, ceramics and glass. With a touch of humour, lightness and freshness, Charlotte's female signature figure moves comfortably across dishes, canvases, vases, prints and paper. Hodes appropriates every media with confidence. Her narrative is unique, regardless of the support that she chooses to use.
Her ceramic work has been described as "spectacular and desirable", by art critic Mel Gooding and her intricate papercuts as "painstakingly beautiful" by Dame Rosalind Savill.
Hodes studied at the Slade School of Art, University College London as an undergraduate (1978-82) and postgraduate (1982-84) student.
In 2005 she was appointed as the first Associate Artist at the Wallace Collection London making papercuts & ceramics in response to 18th century Fête galante paintings and Sèvres porcelain in the collection. This culminated in a solo exhibition at the Wallace Collection in 2007, supported by Arts Council England & Arts & Humanities Research Council, entitled Fragmented Images . Further solo exhibitions include Silhouettes and Filigree at the Marlborough Gallery in December 2009 & Drawing Skirts at the Baring Wing & University Gallery, University of Northumbria in 2008.
As winner of the Jerwood Drawing Prize in 2006 she participated in Drawing Breath, the survey UK touring exhibition of Jerwood prize winners & was one of three exhibitors with the 2010 Jerwood Visual Arts Programme’s show ‘Inscriptions: Thinking/Drawing/Making’ at the Jerwood Space Gallery London.
From 1998 until 2004 she embarked on a series of projects at the Spode factory in Staffordshire, with unrestricted access to their archive transfers, where she worked on unique, ‘one-off’ pieces including two dinner services, one of which was included in the 2003 Design Biennial at the Design Museum London. In 2002 she exhibited Cacophony; a cabinet of 35 vases, a ceramic installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Amongst others, Hodes exhibited in 10 Downing Street in an exhibition of ceramics and papercuts curated by Janice Blackburn OBE in an ongoing series of contemporary craft and design exhibitions in its state rooms and communal areas. The displays showcased the UK’s dynamic contemporary craft and design sector. In 2005 she was commissioned a tea set for Liberty's for the exhibition the Spirit of Liberty.
She was commissioned to make the 2007 Arts and Business Awards at the Berengo Glass Studios in Venice. Her ongoing relationship with the studio has resulted in her making glass work in 2009 for the survey exhibition Glasstress at the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti for the 53rd International Venice Biennale.
Her work is represented in many public collections including Brighton City Museum & Art Gallery, British Council, Women’s Art Collection New Hall University of Cambridge, Worcester City Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Charlotte Hodes is Professor in Fine Art at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.