Lizzie Fitch, the soldier baby and the store-bought mom

By creating a sculpture using mass produced, branded materials (ie: jc penny clothing, new balance sneakers, baby army crocs) wearing a wig, Lizzie Fitch created art that not only speaks of a contemporary narrative, but appears to be the messenger as well.

A ghost like figure in the gallery, she bends over backwards baring the breasts of the artist while accompanying a heavy, brittle, hostile child. The unbalance of the mother's stance gives the whole sculpture a deep sense of unease; the New Balance sneakers next to her a meager attempt to restore balance. She has kept all the tags on her purchases just in case she needs to return something. Crumbling next to her, the baby is protected by a caulking gun, comes with a pair of army Crocs (already personalized with plastic animal buttons) but needs to lean on a stack of loose bricks to stay upright. His gun will solve most of his problems, (except in his soft polyester filled center); the Crocs will let him begin his proper training in the army (while still maintaining individuality with his personalized animal buttons). At the ground level is the pillow they share: coated with gravel and smothered in afterbirth.

Whether it is a statement of the artist's process, her feelings on maternity, the plagued notion of raising soldiers, the growing autism birthrate, Sarah Palin, teenage pregnancy, consumerism, comfort, cellulite, authenticity, privacy, or just the double edged sword of creation in general, it has raised these questions and conversations within the time it has been part of the Multi Faceted Female.

Lizzie is represented by Elizabeth Dee gallery, as sculptural partner to film maker Ryan Trecartin. They currently have shows up at Elizabeth Dee Gallery, The New Museum and Fabric Workshop Museum in Philadelphia.


Sculpture, mixed media 5'x2', 2'x2'