Pitch (2023 - 2026)
Inspired by the many dead and bare trees seen while traveling up and down the highways of the Northeast this past summer, this series, titled Pitch, is an extension of my interest in the transitional times of sunset and sunrise. The central figure of the trees act as vessels for the reflected, colored light of the depicted, transitioning skies. This body of work represents an initial exploration of chromatic blacks — hues so dark they appear black. Pitch, by definition, is both a dark black, tar-like substance produced through burning, and a quality in music that makes possible the ability to distinguish sound as higher or lower in frequency. I associate how color in my work functions with how pitch might function in music, as an abstract language to build emotion and tone.
Good Fire, Bad Burn (2024 - 2026)
Made in response to the recent wildfires across the Northern Hemisphere and taking inspiration from the Indigenous practice of controlled burning, this on-going project, titled Good Fire, Bad Burn, is a series of ceramic sculptures that speak to the powerful natural force of fire: harmful and helpful, and deeply connected to our warming planet.
This project is generously supported by funding from The Puffin Foundation
© 2026 Grace Hager