R O B E R T L. H O D G E

05/23/2026

“My Bo***ge, Your Freedom” (Frederick Douglass),
Mixed media on archival paper, h**p thread, oil paint, oil pastel, reclaimed vinyl
30 x 22 inches

This work began the foundation for the last 50 collages I committed to finish for an upcoming collage book and examines the layered complexities surrounding Douglass, not only as a revolutionary figure, but as a man navigating deeply complicated relationships with family, his wives, his former slave master, and. While Douglass respected Lincoln’s political strategy and eventual movement toward emancipation, he also openly challenged him for moving too slowly on slavery, racial equality, and Black citizenship. Their relationship reflected the tension between urgency and politics, morality and compromise, freedom and power.

The silkscreened text throughout the composition references a song called “Heaven” by Jay -Z, The line, “They can’t believe this much skill is in the human body,” speaking to the burden often placed on brilliant Black figures whose success, intellect, and strategic movement through systems of power are frequently questioned or misunderstood.

The recurring beams throughout the composition symbolize energy, frequency, and the invisible threads connecting us to allies, adversaries, ancestors, and even those who unknowingly guide us toward our destiny. Through layered materials and reclaimed surfaces, the work reflects on how bo***ge, freedom, sacrifice, spirituality, and transformation remain deeply interconnected across generations. This piece has recently been acquired for permanent collection . Announcement coming .

05/19/2026

“Long Hair Don’t Care”
Inspired by Madam C. J. Walker

Mixed media collage, h**p thread, oil paint, oil pastel, and reclaimed vinyl sleeves on archival paper.
30 inches x 22 inches.
This work honors Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919), widely recognized as one of America’s first self-made Black female millionaires. Born Sarah Breedlove, Walker transformed the beauty industry through the development of haircare products created specifically for Black women while building a business rooted in economic independence, self-determination, and empowerment. Beyond entrepreneurship, she used her wealth to support Black education, civil rights organizations, and community advancement during a period of intense racial discrimination in America.

“Long Hair Don’t Care” reflects on beauty, labor, legacy, and the ways Black women have continuously shaped culture, style, and commerce while carrying generations of resilience and innovation.

05/19/2026

Stories Beyond the Stars” (Octavia Butler)Mixed media collage, h**p thread, oil stick, oil paint, oil pastel, enamel, and spray paint on archival paper30 x 22 inches

Octavia Butler expanded the possibilities of science fiction by centering Black identity, survival, memory, and futurism within her narratives. Through her writing, she challenged systems of power while imagining worlds shaped by resilience, transformation, and human complexity.

This work reflects on Butler’s ability to move beyond conventional storytelling and create portals into deeper conversations around history, destiny, spirituality, and liberation. Layers of material, texture, and gesture become a visual language for memory and imagination,bridging the earthly and the cosmic, the ancestral and the unknown.

05/15/2026

Per request here the other half of the diptych “John and Alice “ . Mixed media collage, h**p thread, oil
stick, oil paint, oil pastel, enamel, spray
paint on archival paper
30” x 22”
part of series “supernova”

05/14/2026

Part of a diptych titled John and Alice, this mixed media collage incorporates h**p thread, oil paint, oil stick, oil pastel, enamel, and spray paint on archival paper. The work honors the enduring creative and spiritual partnership of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, whose collective vision expanded the possibilities of jazz music and spiritual expression in the twentieth century.

Married in 1964, the couple shared a profound artistic connection that shaped some of the most transformative recordings in modern music. Alice joined John’s ensemble as pianist during the final years of his life, contributing to groundbreaking compositions that fused improvisation, devotion, and sonic experimentation. Following John’s passing in 1967, Alice continued forging her own influential path as a composer, harpist, and spiritual teacher, creating deeply meditative works that bridged jazz, Eastern philosophy, and transcendence.

Part of body of work called “Supanova”

05/10/2026