Nikita Gross, Ode to the Crone

Art Space is Your Space Artist Residency, August 6 - September 17, 2022

Nikita Gross’ Ode to the Crone Artist Residency honored aging and celebrates women in the third phase of their lives.

In a society where youth and beauty are idealized and commodified, we have become frightened of aging. As a consequence, we cut ourselves off from the wisdom and connection that comes along with it. Growing older is a sacred gift.  Ode To The Crone was a photo and video project by photographer Nikita Gross that honors women who are in their third phase of life.  No longer a maiden and beyond their childbearing years, the accumulated knowledge of their life experience, coupled with less time serving others in caretaking roles, can often provide women of a certain age with a newfound sense of liberation and self-actualization.  

For her Art Space is Your Space (ASYS) Artist Residency, the artist photographed 11 local, community-minded women.  Celebrating them in her signature, otherworldly photographic style, Nikita Gross depicts these “crones” as goddesses; both beautiful and empowered by their years. 

Additionally, for this ASYS Residency, Gross created a short film featuring frank and honest interview clips with her muses—amplifying their voices as well as sharing their collected wisdom.

Ode to the Crone was on view to the public August 13th through September 17th, 2022.

Funded by individual donations to Wave Pool’s annual Pool Party and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.