Molly Hatch, Similis, USA, 2017

Continuing Molly Hatch’s historically-inspired contemporary repertoire is Similis, which is based on a 19th century Chinese Export porcelain plate from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Comprised of 37 earthenware hand-painted plates, the glazed surface of Similis becomes a fragmented canvas for Hatch’s delicate, painterly re-rendering. Playing with the bird motif to create a new design—Hatch’s use of gold and iron red mimic the original’s color pattern. At times the gold luster and the rich red become very similar in tone and at other times they contrast each other depending on the light the work is shown in. This piece is activated through viewing, sparkling and reflecting the room and objects around it.

Hatch’s work has been widely collected and commissioned and exhibited at art fairs nationally and internationally. In 2013 Hatch had a solo museum exhibition at the Philadelphia Art Alliance and was included in New Blue and White, a contemporary decorative arts exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In 2014, Physic Garden, a monumental 456-plate painting, was installed at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, as well Caughley Landscape, another work commissioned by the museum and the Woodruff Arts Center. Chronicle Books published Hatch’s first illustrated book of paintings in March of 2015. Hatch is currently working on a multiple installation commission for the Newark Museum which will debut in the fall of 2017.

As Hatch works on a commission basis, custom dimensionality as well as source inspiration can be accommodated for a bespoke plate painting installation.

A full color catalogue of Hatch’s work is available by request through Todd Merrill Studio.

Measurements: 84″ H x 65″ W x 1 1/2″ D
Materials: 37 hand painted earthenware plates with glaze, underglaze and gold luster