Artist's Cosmic Birth Art Meets Artemis II Launch

Artist Loie Hollowell's work is deeply influenced by the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, translating them into abstract forms. Her current series, 'Overview Effect,' featuring large canvases with sculpted circles, draws parallels between the astronaut's perspective of Earth from space and Hollowell's own profound out-of-body experience during her daughter's home birth. This series marks a shift from her earlier, more diagrammatic works that responded to a difficult first birth.

Hollowell, who was raised in Woodland, California, cites influences ranging from Georgia O'Keeffe to Louise Bourgeois, and even Instagram photos of home births and Ina May Gaskin's book. She openly discusses how societal comfort levels, particularly among male collectors, have impacted her ability to share the personal inspirations behind her art, including a past abortion. She notes the art market's tendency to pigeonhole artists, making it challenging to blend abstract and figurative elements.

Reflecting on her perimenopausal and menopausal stages, Hollowell observes a shift in her focus, moving from a constant thought of sex to a greater sense of control. She expresses optimism about the dismantling of barriers between the physical and abstract in art and foresees her artistic practice evolving further as she enters her 50s and 60s, a period where many of her favorite artists have significantly blossomed. The ability to create such personal work while being a mother is a testament to changing times.