Eileen Hoffman
WovenHistories: The Emperors New Clothes, 2024
acrylic paint & pen on dura-lar, chenille stems 58"h x 42"w x 6"d
This piece weaves "The Emperor’s New Clothes" with the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, highlighting how societal pressures and fear of dissent erode women's rights, much like the emperor’s invisible robe symbolizes the endorsement of worthless ideas to avoid challenging norms.
Eileen Hoffman
Woven Histories: On The Basis of Sex, 2024
acrylic paint & pen on dura-lar, chenille stems 46"h x 41"w x 4"d
In my desire to make women’s issues visible, I use the text from Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s oral argument asserting that discrimination on the basis of sex violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The transparent bag, containing a small replica of RBG’s collar, joins the discussion of how sexism weighs on women.
Eileen Hoffman
Woven Histories: The Princess and Her Beloved, 2024
acrylic paint & pen on dura-lar, chenille stems 46"h x 41"w x 4"d
This piece draws inspiration from the Jewish folk tale The Princess and Her Beloved to highlight the story of a wise woman fighting for justice. In the tale, the princess rejects numerous selfish suitors, holding out for the good man destined to become her true partner.
Eileen Hoffman
Woven Histories: Mirror, Mirror, 2024
acrylic paint, pen, dura-lar, chenille stems 73”h x 32.5”w x 2”d
“Mirror, Mirror” revisits the story of Snow White, where the queen’s envy of her stepdaughter’s beauty drives her to seek Snow White’s death. The queen’s obsession with ego and appearance reflects both historical and ongoing struggles with these issues. The bows—typically seen as sweet, decorative symbols for girls—take on a deeper meaning here. By obsessively repeating this motif, I highlight how even the smallest, most innocent details can reinforce the deeply rooted sexism that women still contend with today.
Eileen Hoffman
Unlocking the Tower, 2023
acrylic paint & pen on dura-lar, chenille stems 105”h X 70”w x 100”d
This installation highlights the hidden stories that are frequently left unsaid while retelling the Rapunzel myth. In the Brothers Grimm story "Rapunzel," a girl fights to free herself from a witch's captivity in a tower. A world full of isolation and deceit. The story's vivid imagery effectively captures the challenges of sexism.
Eileen Hoffman
When We Were Princesses Grid 2, 2021-22
acrylic paint on dura-lar, pen on matte film, chenille stems 56.5"w x 49.5"h, Individual paintings are 9 x 12"
We can be bombarded with the fantasy of Princesses in childhood. "When We Were Princesses" is based on all the hours young girls can spend drawing princesses or women we thought we were supposed to be. The delicate ink drawings flirt with visibility by their placement on densely painted patterns.
Eileen Hoffman
And Now We are Mommies, 2022
acrylic paint & pen on dura-lar, chenille stems 58"h x 175"w x 6"d
The piece "And Now We Are Mommies" is in response to the Roe v. Wade ruling from the Supreme Court in 2022. Ruth Bader Ginsburg and my mother both attended Columbia Law School and graduated ten years apart. They worked together at the Rutgers Law School, where Ruth Bader Ginsberg taught and my mother served as the assistant dean. I decided to use quotes from Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the works in this piece because of this personal connection.
Eileen Hoffman
The Rapunzel Stories: KnockTheTowerDown, 2020
Mixed media on Dura-Lar, chenille stems 30"w 105"h 24"d
Rapunzel was a young girl fighting her way out of a castle that she knew was not the entirety of her world. This Brothers Grimm story beautifully illustrates the central premise of my work: to reflect on the struggles of women to be visible and seen as powerful and intelligent. The long hair of Rapunzel inspired me to create a long art object that goes as far up as it can go, past imagination.
Eileen Hoffman
The Rapunzel Stories: Knitting Her Blanket, 2021
Dura-Lar, Chenile Stems, Acrylic Paint 55"w 105"h 24"d
Rapunzel was a young girl fighting her way out of a castle that she knew was not the entirety of her world. This Brothers Grimm story beautifully illustrates the central premise of my work: to reflect on the struggles of women to be visible and seen as powerful and intelligent. The long hair of Rapunzel inspired me to create a long art object that goes as far up as it can go, past imagination.
Eileen Hoffman
The Rapunzel Stories: Looking Through the Window, 2021
Mixed media on Dura-Lar, chenille stems 50"w 105"h 24"d
Rapunzel was a young girl fighting her way out of a castle that she knew was not the entirety of her world. This Brothers Grimm story beautifully illustrates the central premise of my work: to reflect on the struggles of women to be visible and seen as powerful and intelligent. The long hair of Rapunzel inspired me to create a long art object that goes as far up as it can go, past imagination.
