Grass Court Gospel honors Althea Gibson (1927–2003), the pioneering athlete who became the first Black player to compete in and win major international tennis championships, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Breaking the color barrier in both tennis and professional golf, Gibson transformed the possibilities of who could occupy spaces historically closed to Black athletes, paving the way for generations of champions who followed.

Surrounding Gibson are references to a lineage of Black women whose accomplishments continue to reshape the sport, including Zina Garrison, Chanda Rubin, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka. Through layers of reclaimed materials, painted interventions, and tennis imagery, the work considers legacy, visibility, and the power of representation across generations.

Part of Hodge's ongoing Supa Nova series, the painting functions as both portrait and altar, celebrating Gibson not only as a champion but as a foundational figure whose courage and achievements expanded the horizons of possibility for those who came after her.