Work samples

  • Carving Out Time Scene 1: Morning .JPG
    Carving Out Time Scene 1: Morning .JPG
    Carving Out Time Scene 1: Morning Acrylic Ink and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene 1 Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Morning is the first segment of a larger work titled Carving Out Time. Composed of 5 scenes this monumental relief carving is a visual representation of a day in the life of a mother presented through the lens of the artist’s own life experience. The work measures 60 ft in length in its entirety. This scene represents the start of the day and sets the tone for the rest of the work. It also introduces the subjects, with the main character, LaToya as indicated by her dramatic pose. Above the bed we see nods to the work of Alma Thomas and Elizabeth Catlett.
  • Scene 2 crop panel.JPG
    Scene 2 crop panel.JPG
    Carving Out Time Scene 2: Homeschool and Housework Acrylic Ink and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene 2 Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Homeschool and Housework is the second segment of a larger work titled Carving Out Time. Composed of 5 scenes this monumental relief carving is a visual representation of a day in the life of a mother presented through the lens of the artist’s own life experience. The work measures 60 ft in length in its entirety. This scene shows Latoya’s role as an educator in her home. As a persona challenge she wanted to incorporate as many different types of objects as possible to expand her carving practice. This scene also represents trying to navigate all the tasks of the day. The title of the work, Carving Out Time, plays on the idea of carving out time to prioritize the tasks of the day and the duration of time taken to carve the work. Another reference to Elizabeth Catlett is made by the small sculpture on the book shelf and the Print on the wall is a work by printmaker Margaret Burroughs.
  • Scene 3 crop panel.JPG
    Scene 3 crop panel.JPG
    Scene 3: Diner Time Acrylic, Ink, and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Diner Time is the third segment of a larger work titled Carving Out Time. Composed of 5 scenes this monumental relief carving is a visual representation of a day in the life of a mother presented through the lens of the artist’s own life experience. The work measures 60 ft in length in its entirety. Scene 3 is the apex of the work and is the only scene where the main figure of the work is standing. This scene also has a different type of floor to further set it apart from the other sections of the work. In this scene the work of local artist and Printmaker Valerie Maynard mimics the profile of LaToya’s silhouette. On the far-right side of the composition a work by Kerry James Marshall references the relationship Hobbs has with her partner, Arison Jacks.
  • Carving Out Time Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys.JPG
    Carving Out Time Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys.JPG
    Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys Acrylic, Ink, and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Bedtime for the Boys is the fourth segment of a larger work titled Carving Out Time. Composed of 5 scenes this monumental relief carving is a visual representation of a day in the life of a mother presented through the lens of the artist’s own life experience. The measures 60 ft in length in its entirety. Scene 4 references the idea of ritual and relationship specifically highlighting the bedtime traditions she and her partner have established with their sons. This work is the first time Hobbs has placed figures in full environments and it was really important to her for each space to feel like its own character in addition to the figures. It was also important for her sons Ade and Theo to be part of the process in creating this work. Two of their drawings can be seen in the center of the composition. She also uses the other artwork in the scene to makes reference to Basquiat and her partner Ariston who is also an artist.

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About LaToya

Baltimore City

LaToya M. Hobbs is an artist, wife, and mother of two from Little Rock, AR who is currently living and working in Baltimore, MD. She received her BA in Painting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and MFA in Printmaking from Purdue University.  LaToya’s work deals with figurative imagery that addresses the ideas of beauty, cultural identity, and womanhood as they relate to women of the African Diaspora.  She creates a fluid and symbiotic relationship between her printmaking… more

View LaToya's Resume
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Carving Out Time

Between 2020 and 2021 I completed  the most  exciting and ambitious endeavor of my career to date.  Carving Out Time is an elaborately detailed life-size wood carving  that takes the viewer through a day in my life as a mother and practicing artist.  Totaling 8ft in height and 60ft in length, this monumental  “portrait of a day” is divided into 5 scenes or phases of the day:  Morning, Homeschool and Housework, Dinner Time, Bedtime for the Boys, and The Studio.  The phrase “Carving Out Time” references the duration of time taken to complete this arduous piece and the negotiations one has to make when prioritizing the tasks that occupy their day; something I am constantly engaging in as a mother.   In addition to exploring the figure, this work presents a rich and detailed environment where the subjects exist which is a new aspect of my work I’m excited to share. 
 
I also use this work as an opportunity to highlight some of the artists who have had an impact on my practice by recreating their works which adorn the walls of this familial space(s).  Throughout these scenes, references are made to the works of Elizabeth Catlett,  Alma Thomas, Valerie Maynard and Kerry James Marshall.   Conceptually rich and layered in meaning, Carving Out Time touches on the ideas of motherhood, family, legacy, and the connection one has to a space.  The monumental scale of this work situates itself within the tradition of history painting and presents the everyday woman as triumphant. 
  • Carving Out Time
    Carving Out Time Acrylic, Ink and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels 96" X 720 2020-2021
  • Carving Out Time Deteia: Scene 1: Morning.JPG
    Carving Out Time Deteia: Scene 1: Morning.JPG
    Scene 1 Morning Acrylic, Ink, and Relief Carving on Cheery Wood Panels Scene Dimensions 96" X 144" This scene represents the start of the day and sets the tone for the rest of the work. It also introduces the subjects, with the main character, LaToya as indicated by her dramatic pose. Above the bed we see references to the work of Alma Thomas and Elizabeth Catlett
  • Carving Out Time Detail, Scene 2, Homeschool and Housework
    Carving Out Time Detail, Scene 2, Homeschool and Housework
    Scene 2: Homeschool and Housework Acrylic, Ink, and Relief Carving on Wood Panel Panel Dimensions: 96" X 144" This scene shows LaToya’s role as an educator in her home. This scene also represents trying to navigate all the tasks of the day. The title of the work, Carving Out Time, plays on the idea of carving out time to prioritize the tasks of the day and the duration of time taken to carve the work. Another reference to Elizabeth Catlett is made by the small sculpture on the book shelf and the Print on the wall is a work by printmaker Margaret Burroughs.
  • Scene 3 crop panel.JPG
    Scene 3 crop panel.JPG
    Scene 3: Dinner Time Acrylic, Ink and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Scene 3 is the apex of the work and is the only scene where the main figure of the work is standing. This scene also has a different type of floor to further set it apart from the other sections of the work. In this scene the work of local artist and Printmaker Valerie Maynard mimics the profile of LaToya’s silhouette. On the far-right side of the composition a work by Kerry James Marshall references the relationship Hobbs has with her partner.
  • Carving Out Time Detail, Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys .JPG
    Carving Out Time Detail, Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys .JPG
    Scene 4: Bedtime for the Boys Acrylic, Ink, and Releif Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Scene 4 references the idea of ritual and relationship specifically highlighting the bedtime traditions she and her partner have established with their sons. This work is the first time Hobbs has placed figures in full environments and it was really important to her for each space to feel like its own character in addition to the figures. It was also important for her sons Ade and Theo to be part of the process in creating this work. Two of their drawings can be seen in the center of the composition. She also uses the other artworks in the scene to makes reference to Basquiat and her partner Ariston who is also an artist.
  • Carving Out Time, Detail, Scene 5: The Studio.JPG
    Carving Out Time, Detail, Scene 5: The Studio.JPG
    Scene 5: The Studio Acrylic, Ink, and Relief Carving on Cherry Wood Panels Scene Dimensions: 96" X 144" 2020-2021 Scene 5, The studio represents the point in the day where Hobbs is able to shift from her role as mother to that of artist. It is the only instance where she makes direct eye contact with the audience. She is situated in her home studio space surrounded by works in various stages of completion. Her pose is another reference to the work of Kerry James Marshall and is taken from a series of paintings he did of young artists in their studios. The monumental scale of this work situates itself within the tradition of history painting and presents the everyday woman as triumphant.
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