The Estate of Cathy Josefowitz

Photo: Bettina Moriceau Maillard

Prolific, prescient and powerfully original yet under-recognized in her lifetime, Josefowitz (1956 – 2014) produced a diverse body of work that ingeniously transcends hierarchies of medium and genre. Over the course of four decades, this New York-born, Swiss-raised artist created an oeuvre of remarkable ambition, spanning drawing and painting, theater and dance, as she developed a deeply personal visual syntax in her quest to represent the body as an expressive vehicle of individual experience. Josefowitz’s practice reconciled the visual arts and performance, leaving an exceptional legacy as substantial in scale as it is intimate and potent in its impact.

Born in New York in 1956, Cathy Josefowitz spent her childhood and adolescence in Geneva, Switzerland, from the age of two and a half. Manifesting the inherent gifts of a musical conductor father and artist mother, she taught herself to draw at the age of four in a moment she would later describe as ‘finding her voice.’

Josefowitz’s lifelong fascination with bodily experience was sparked in part by her study of stage design at the Théâtre National de Strasbourg in 1972. Driven by a relentless need for self-expression, she continued her exploration of the corporeal in works on paper that articulated the different configurations a human body can take as a form of both resilience and liberation. She frequently drew in notebooks, depicting her dreams and inner world, while also developing her practice on canvas. Her art quickly revealed a unique awareness of and sensitivity to the physical forms of the self and of those marginalized and made vulnerable by society.

In 1973, while studying at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Josefowitz made large figurative paintings on kraft paper and cardboard that channeled the influence of major artistic movements of the 20th Century, including fauvism, expressionism and Der Blaue Reiter. Likewise influenced by such female artists as Louise Bourgeois, Josefowitz soon came to focus specifically upon women’s bodies, extending this intensive exploration in the late 1970s into her research in Boston into primal theater—an approach based on improvisation and the search for raw, subconscious emotions—as well as a brief period of training as a midwife in New York. In both primal theater and maternity, Josefowitz saw an unidealized primal and primordial reality, and applied her ideas and research to her paintings and burgeoning choreographic practice.

Josefowitz continued to study dance at the renowned Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England from 1979 to 1983, where she met and learned from the masters of contemporary dance, Steve Paxton—co-founder with Trisha Brown of the Judson Dance Theater in New York and the inventor of the contact improvisation dance technique—and Mary Fulkerson, one of the founders of the anatomical release technique. At this time, Josefowitz also became involved in political activism, taking part in a number of demonstrations, marches and conferences supporting both the feminist movement and the gay and lesbian liberation movement, often creating posters to promote these events. She was notably part of the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camps, protesting the local storage of cruise missiles in Berkshire, England, and co-founded with Mara de Wit a women-only post-punk band called Lining Time, which became well-known among the activist circuits in South West England. Mirroring the increase in her engagement in political activism and feminism, Josefowitz’s art intensified its representation of female sensation and feeling.

While at Dartington, and during the years after she graduated, Josefowitz began more intensively seeking ways to dismantle the conventional hierarchy that separated performance and painting, and to reconcile these two mediums in a unified practice. This effort is typified by one of her first choreographic pieces, ‘Woodstock’ (1983), in which she playfully used dance and movement to animate her childhood memories of her grandparents’ house—and the accepting and loving community she encountered there—in Upstate New York.

Captivated by the immediacy of performance, Josefowitz extended this organic exploration of the human form into her drawings and paintings as well; she regularly sketched on tablecloths, napkins, receipts, invoices and postcards, while continuing to work in her notebooks, amassing a travelogue of the cities she visited. During this period in the late 1980s, she painted on kraft paper that she rolled onto the wall of her studio, which allowed her to modify the size of her paintings as she worked.

As the 1990s arrived, the intersection of Josefowitz’s performative and pictorial practices was achieving its greatest definition, while the figurative realm she had spent her career portraying in two dimensions gave way to increasing abstraction. A series of paintings based on her 1989 choreographic work ‘For Ever Young’ marked the beginning of a gradual disappearance of the body from Josefowitz’s oeuvre. This series, made in tribute following the tragic death of a friend and colleague, prominently features an empty chair, emblematic of the way in which the artist’s imagery would become more abstract, geometric and monochromatic in the ensuing decades.

As Josefowitz became increasingly engaged in the physicality of creation, pursuing her mission to collapse boundaries between performance and visual mark-making, she also began her painting sessions with a dance. Large-scale paintings from this period were no longer created on the wall of the artist’s studio, but on her floor, where Josefowitz moved, reached and swayed over the surface of her canvas in a highly calculated attempt to capture in oil paint the ephemeral action.

Following a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007, Josefowitz’s work acquired an intensifying air of spirituality. She initiated a series of abstract kamasutra paintings in 2010, depicting couples set against airy and limitless monochrome backgrounds, which was followed by a series of musings and meditations on existence in the form of large-format paintings inspired by skies and landscapes, as well as her own emotional states, that she pursued until the day she died on 28 June 2014, in Geneva.

Image: Cathy Josefowitz, Untitled, 1974 c., Oil on cardboard, 97.7 x 68 cm / 38 1/2 x 26 3/4 in © Estate of Cathy Josefowitz

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Cathy Josefowitz

Biography

Print Biography
Born
New York 1956
Education

Studied theatre design at the Théâtre National de Strasbourg, France, 1972 – 1973

Studied at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, 1973 – 1978

Studied performing arts and new dance at Dartington College of Arts, Dartington, UK 1979 – 1983

Studied choreography at the SNND School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1987 – 1988

Died
Geneva, Switzerland 2014

Solo exhibitions

2023
Hauser & Wirth, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Forever Young', New York NY
2022
Macro Museo D’Arte Contemporanea di Roma, 'Cathy Josefowitz. The Thinking Body', cur. Elise Lammer and Luca Lo Pinto, Rome, Italy (Travelling Exhibition)
2021
Centre Culturel Suisse, 'Cathy Josefowitz. The Thinking Body', cur. Elise Lammer and Claire Hoffman, Paris, France (Travelling Exhibition)
Kunsthaus Langenthal, 'Cathy Josefowitz. The Thinking Body', cur. Elise Lammer and Raffael Dörig, Langenthal, Switzerland
2018
Phillips, Parcours Saint-Germain, 'The Muse is Exhausted', cur. Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel, Paris, France
Dilecta Gallery, 'Dance Eat Love', Paris, France
2014
Galleria Susanna Orlando, 'Cathy Josefowitz. blue blue and more... ', Pietrasanta, Italy
2012
Sotheby's, Palazzo Broggia, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Meditation in & out', Milano, Italy
Nicola Deman, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Collages 2002 - 2003', Paris, France
2005
Simon Studer Art, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Geneva, Switzerland
1990
Galleria Lusca, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Milan, Italy
1983
Villa Eldenstein, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Geneva, Switzerland
1975
La Puce à l’Oreille, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Paris, France
1973
Helmina Gallery, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Strasbourg, France
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Group exhibitions

2023
Fondation Carmignac, 'The Inner Island', Hyères, France
2021
FRAC Champagne-Ardennes, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Susie Green. Empty Rooms Full of Love', cur. Marie Griffay and Bettina Moriceau Maillard, Reims, France
2019
SALTS, 'Bodysplits', cur. Samuel Leuenberger and Elise Lammer, Birsfelden, Switzerland
Kraupa Tuskany Zeidler, ‘Liminal State’, Berlin, Germany
1976
Unesco, 'Salon des Femmes', Paris, France
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Choreography / Set Design

1989
'Omaggio a Edward Muybridge', with Beppe Sebaste, presented in Cinghio Theatre, Parma, Italy
'For Ever Young', with Paola Bartoletti, presented in Cinghio Theatre, Parma, Italy
'Four Short Pieces'

1988
'Release', presented in Cinghio Theatre, Parma, Italy
'That Truly Would Be a Horrible Way to Die', with Monieke Van den Laak (music by Evert Veenman), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1987
'Obsession', with music by Dominique Schusselé, Wales, UK
1985
'A Soulful Piece’, ‘Exit', with Mara de Wit, Wales, UK
1984
'Butaï in Wales’, ‘Yes Talk Show’, ‘Where’s My Pillow', with Mara de Wit, Wales, UK
1983
'Woodstock', Dance Festival of Dartington, Dartington, UK
'Fiesta Graduata', with Mara de Wit, Covent Garden Festival, UK
1978
Set Design for Ariane Mnouchkine’s film 'Molière'
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Bibliography

Monographs

2019
Moriceau Maillard, Bettina (ed.), 'Cathy Josefowitz', Milan: Mousse Publishing, 2019
2018
Robinne, Grégoire (ed.), 'Cathy Josefowitz. Dance. Eat. Love', Paris: Dilecta – Maison et Galerie d’Éditions, 2018 (exh. cat.)
2014
Galleria Susanna Orlando (ed.), 'Cathy Josefowitz. blue blue and more.... ', Forte dei Marmi: Galleria Susanna Orlando, 2014 (exh. cat.)
2012
Daverio, Philippe, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Meditation In & Out', Milan: Sotheby’s, 2012 (exh. cat.)
2008
___, 'Cathy Josefowitz Collages', Saint-Paul de Vence: Galerie IGI, 2008 (exh. cat.)
2007
Simon Studer Art (ed.), 'Up down. Une Installation de Cathy Josefowitz 2005-2007', Geneva: Simon Studer Art, 2007 (exh. cat.)
2005
Michael, Jakob, 'Cathy Josefowitz', Geneva: Simon Studer Art, 2005 (exh. cat.)
2003
Galerie Nicolas Deman (ed.), 'Cathy Josefowitz. Collages 2002 - 2003', Paris: Galerie Nicolas Deman, 2003 (exh. cat.)
1999
___, 'Josefowitz', Paris: Espace Jean-René de Fleurieu, 1999 (exh. cat.)
1994
Bortolotti, Paola, 'Mosaica: oli su carta intelata', Florence: Galleria Via Larga, 1994 (exh. cat.)
1990
Sebaste, Beppe, 'Cathy Josefowitz', 1990
1973
___, 'Peintures de Cathy Josefowitz', Moniteur des soumissions, Strasbourg, 1973
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Publications

2016
___, 'Si Apre la Stanza. Ci Sono Cieli Dappertutto', in: 'art a part of cult(ure) remove background noise', Rome, 2016
2005
Jakob, Michael, 'L'Art Se Nourrit Volontiers d'Oppositions... ', Geneva: Galerie Simon Studer, 2005 (exh. cat.)
2003
Bouisset, Maïten, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Conjuguer Collage et Mouvement', Paris, 2003
2002
Sebaste, Beppe, 'Tolbiac', Milan: Baldini & Castoldi, 2002, ill. on cover
1997
___,'Salon de Mai, Salon de Mai', Paris, 1997 (exh. cat.)
1994
Bortolotti, Paola, 'Allo Spettatore', Florence: Galleria Via Larga, 1994
Sebaste, Beppe, 'Per Cathy', Florence: Galleria Via Larga, 1994 (exh. cat.)
___, 'Per Cathy Josefowitz', Florence: Galleria Via Larga, 1994 (exh. cat.)
1992
Sebaste, Beppe, 'Café Suise e Altri Luoghi di Sosta', Milan: Feltrinelli, 1992
1989
Ottolenghi, Valeria, 'Quattro Pezzi di Teatro Danza tra Astrazione e Quotidiano', Parma, 1989, p. 21
Claude, René, 'Deux ou Trois Choses Que l'On Sait d'Elle... ', Geneva: Galerie NO TU NO, 1989 (exh. cat.)
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Press

2022
Biddles, Claire, 'The DIY folk art of 1980s feminist collective ‘Lining Time’ balances the eccentric with the inclusive', in: The Wire, issue 461, July 2022, ill., also on: exacteditions.com
Tayyab, Amin, 'Strike! How 80s post-punk band ‘Lining Time’ crystallised a moment in feminist protest history', on: theguardian.com, 15 August 2022, ill.
Pigeat, Anaël, 'Cathy Josefowitz Redécouverte', in: The Art Newspaper, London/New York, March 2022, p. 32, ill.
Puyfoulhoux, Clare Mary, 'Cathy Josefowitz. The Thinking Body. Pleased to Meet You', on: pointcontemporain.com, 1 February 2022, ill.
Luquet-Gad, Ingrid, 'Les désirs désordonnés de Cathy Josefowitz s’exposent à Paris', on: lesinrocks.com 24 January 2022, ill.
___, 'Cathy Josefowitz ‘The Thinking Body’ Centre culturel Suisse, Paris', on: flashart.com, 21 January 2022, ill.
2021
Hoberman, Mara, 'Cathy Josefowitz', on: Artforum.com, November 2021, ill.
2016
Castelli Gattinara, Federico, 'Narni, una Stanza Per le Arti', on: ilgiornaledellarte.com, Turin, 17 November 2016
___, 'Stanze – Ci Sono Cieli Dappertutto', in: Artribune, Italy, 2016
2013
Girieud, Corine, 'Cathy Josefowitz. Moving Walls', in: Artline, 2013
___, 'Moving Walls. Cathy Josefowitz', in: Transversalles, n. 40, 2013
2012
Trétiack, Philippe, 'Cathy Josefowitz Kagan en Héritage', in: Elle Décoration, n. 209, 2012
Malod-Dognin, Evelyne, 'Dans l'Univers de l'Artiste Cathy Josefowitz', in: Espaces Contemporains, n. 5, 2012
Bo, M., 'Peinture et Danse Dans un Nouvel Espace', in: Tribune de Genève, Geneva, 2012
2005
___, 'Rêver Sous Tous les Angles', in: Roche-Bobois, 2005
1994
Cavazzini, Gianni, 'Le Citazioni Figurali di Cathy Josefowitz', in: Gazzetta di Parma, Parma, 1994, p. 3
___, 'Prosegue Fino ad Aprile il Ciclo Espositivo alla Galleria 'Via Larga' di Firenze', Prato, 1994
___, 'I 'Mosaica' di Cathy Josefowitz', in: Toscana Oggi, Prato, 1994
___, 'Le Finestre della Josefowitz', in: La Repubblica, Rome, 1994
___, 'Dipingere Rodin', in: L’Unità, Rome, 1994
___, 'Via Larga', Florence, 1994
___, 'Mostre', Rome, 1994
1993
Lagazzi, Paolo, 'Un Appartamento Presso il Museo', in: Gazzetta di Parma, Parma, 1993
Luritti, Elisabetta, 'Anteprima', in: Il Giornale, Milan, 1993
___, 'Olii su Carta in Mostra al Chiostro di S. Agostino', in: Il Tirreno, Livorno, 1993
1992
Betti, Carlo, 'Da Milano, Un'Iniziativa Che Dovrebbe Far Scuola', in: Gazzetta di Parma, Parma,1992
1989
Ottolenghi, Valeria, 'Oggi e Domani al Cinghio', in: Gazzetta di Parma, Parma, 1989
___, 'Domenica al Cinghio. Cathy Josefowitz', in: Gazzetta di Parma, Parma, 1989
___, 'Danza e Dintorni con i Nuovi Talenti', in: Corriere della Sera, Milan, 1989, p. 46
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