Loie Hollowell’s Around the clock in flesh blue and purple, 2024 is a diptych that marks an intimate exploration of embodiment, transformation, and the cyclical nature of time. From a series of the smallest works in her practice to date, these pieces bring a profound focus to the body’s capacity for nourishment and connection.

Each painting features a raised nipple cast from the bodies of Hollowell’s breastfeeding friends, anchoring the composition both physically and conceptually. The protruding form serves as a focal point and dividing line, generating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. A “milking line” descends from the peak, sharply dividing bright highlights and dark shadows while evoking the rhythms of time—suggesting the arc of an analog clock, metronome, or the motion of a radar map.

Through her mastery of trompe-l’oeil techniques, Hollowell creates works that oscillate between hyper-real and abstract, inviting viewers into a space where physicality and illusion coexist. These smooth transitions and stark contrasts speak to themes of transformation and continuity, elevating the cyclical patterns inherent in life and time.

By incorporating the literal imprint of her breastfeeding friends, Hollowell honors both individual and shared experiences of the female form. This diptych celebrates the resilience and universality of the body while imbuing the works with intimacy and reverence, making them a testament to connection, nourishment, and the transformative power of the human experience.