Materiality Collection

I use drapery as a symbol of women, the stereotypes and expectations surrounding their lives and their bodies. There is a similarity between the drapery and the intimate recesses of a woman's body, specifically the vulva. Drapery, used in art to frame the revealed, desirable nude body, or to completely swathe and signify the virtuous, holy body, comes to represent the body itself, as well as the stereotypes historically used against women. My work, removing the body and focusing only on the drapery, could be read as a comment on these judgments."

“An amazing night with artist Jodi Stewart during the opening of her solo exhibition Materiality at Gallery Klei. Her collection embodies the stance of a strong woman of profound character who wishes to switch the focus of form from the traditional nudes in history, and realign it toward the element often used to frame the body; draped textiles. With the concepts of drapery strong throughout her works, Materiality is able to push together mixed elements, textures, temperatures in medium, and the aesthetic of curved bodily forms to portray 'the nude' under a different perspective. Well done to Jodi for a collection that is not to be missed.