The fascinating phantasmal worlds in the work of the artist Cathy Ward.
Pulsing and surging with dark energies, Cathy Ward's mesmerising drawings capture a restlessly inquiring spirit through the meticulous rendering of organic forms. Their mystery, emotional depth, and enveloping sensuality recall an occluded art-historical canon of weird psychedelia, hermetic alchemical illustrations and outsider horror vacui. Liberty Realm presents a broad survey of works ranging from the acclaimed drawings exhibited recently in “Phantasmata” at The Good Luck Gallery (Los Angeles), “Talespinning” at the Drawing Center (New York), “Romantic detachment” at PS1 MOMA (New York), and "Utopia" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center (Sheboygan, Wisconsin), to new explorations and insightful glimpses of her earlier output and formative practice. Substantial essays by Doug Harvey and Robert Wallis further untangle these fascinating phantasmal worlds.
Cathy Ward was born in Kent, England. In a career spanning more than thirty years, she has exhibited in such major venues as PS1/MoMA, the Drawing Center, the Walker Art Gallery, and the Whitechapel Gallery. She was appointed artist-in-residence for the "Madge Gill: Medium & Visionary" retrospective at Orleans House Gallery in London and her work has been featured in many underground and cultural spaces, including the Horse Hospital (London), and Maggs Counterculture (London). Her work is in the permanent collection of the College of Psychic Studies (London).
LA-based writer, artist, experimental musician. Education M.F.A. Magna Cum Laude, Painting. University of California, Los Angeles 1994 B.F.A. Honors, Painting, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada 1990 Selected Professional Experience Art Critic LA Weekly 1997 - 2011 Contributing Editor Modern Painters Magazine 2004 - 2006;West Coast Editor Modern Painters Magazine2011 Contributing Editor and Columnist Art issues. Magazine 1996 - 2002 Keeper of the Permanent Collection Museum of Jurassic Technology, Los Angeles 1994-present (emeritus) Instructor CalArts Department of Critical Studies (Pataphysics II: Patacritical Interrogation Techniques) Winter 2008 Instructor UCLA Department of Art Graduate Program (Individual studio critiques) Spring 2005, Spring 2006 Instructor West LA College Painting (Art 300, 301, 305, 306, 307) Spring & Fall 2009; Art History (TBD) Summer 2009 Visiting Lecturer or Panelist (1997 - present) UCLA, CalArts, USC, Art Center, Otis College of Art, Los Angeles Valley City College, Claremont Graduate Schools, UC Riverside, Cal State Long Beach, The Whitney Museum, The Getty Museum, UCLA Hammer Museum, Laguna Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, University of Umea, Sweden, University of Houston, Colorado State University, Spokane Falls College, Eastern Washington University, School of the Art Institute, Chicago; Colorado State University, Fort Collins; Cranbrook Academy, Michigan; Trent University, Canada, ArtLA Art Fair Instructor Idyllwild Arts Academy (Summer high school painting program) Summer 1995
In am interested in the archaeology and anthropology of art and religion. I specialise in prehistoric rock art, particularly in animistic and shamanistic contexts; the use of archaeology and anthropology by today's Pagans and neo-Shamans; and how modern and contemporary artists have engaged with shamanism. I have published extensively on these topics, including six books, dozens of journal articles, book chapters, book and exhibition reviews, and over 100 conference presentations and public lectures internationally. I teach on: MA in Art History and Visual Culture - distinctive in its intercultural approach to the visual arts and professional training including an optional accredited internship. I supervise dissertations and teach the course 'World Arts' examining museums and the archaeology and anthropology of art.
