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Joy Curtis

Joy Curtis’ work uses an array of history-laden materials to creates visual fables. Her practice involves extensive research from the origins of commercial fabrics and dyes, to minerology to architecture. She layers and juxtaposes cloth with brass, hand dyed fabrics rusted with oxidized metals, wax and bronze. Her works describe a rich inner world, one which can be deciphered through its material references, but not fully understood.

Performance

Joy Curtis's Wearable Sculptures Activated

Wells Chandler and Dan Bainbridge will activate Joy Curtis’s wearable sculptures in her current exhibition Horns, Holes, Skins, and Branches Saturday, April 25 at 2PM.

klausgallery.cloud

“Night Hike and Ocean Grandma” performances

During Joy Curtis’s sculpture show “Night Hike and Ocean Grandma” performers activated Curtis’s wearable fabric works on Saturday afternoons throughout the run of the show. Performers included: Jason Andrew, Dan Bainbridge, Olympe Gautier, Julia Gleich, Aden Hardin, Erin Lee Jones, Tammy Kerner, Millie Kapp, Michael Mahalchick, and Lizzie Scott. See the performances in Edition No. 23 of KLAUSGALLERY.CLOUD

Review

The Bone Magic of Joy Curtis

Joy Curtis’ 2024 show Night Hike and Ocean Grandma was reviewed by Brecht Wright Gander for Hyperallergic on April 28, 2024.

Review

Joy Curtis: Night Hike and Ocean Grandma

Joy Curtis’ 2024 show Night Hike and Ocean Grandma was reviewed by Elizabeth Buhe for The Brooklyn Rail. Read the review here.

klausgallery.cloud

Joy Curtis: The Inner Hospital

Explore the making of “The Inner Hospital” in Edition No. 10 of KLAUSGALLERY.CLOUD

Publication

Joy Curtis in "december"

Joy Curtis has several of her sculptures from her Skeleton Woman series reproduced in december, volume 33.2. A concise overview of the series written by december art editor Buzz Spector is included in the introduction to the current issue.

interview

Sculpture Today: A Discussion with Joy Curtis and Rachel Beach

Hrag Vartanian interviews Joy Curtis and Rachel Beach about their concurrent sculpture shows.

Review

Contemporary Takes on the Self in a Manhattan Church

Allison Meier reviews On the Inner and Outer Self at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan.

Review

Jennifer J. Lee and Joy Curtis

Johanna Fateman reviews two concurrent solo shows at Klaus Gallery by Joy Curtis and Jennifer J. Lee

Interview

Sculpture Today: A Discussion with Joy Curtis and Rachel Beach

Hrag Vartanian interviews Joy Curtis and Rachel Beach for Hyperallergic.

discussion

Hearts Gymnastics

Joy Curtis and Melissa Brown discuss their critique club, Hearts Gymnastics. Towards the end of the discussion, Cynthia Carlson joins the conversation.

Joy Curtis

b. 1976 in Valparaiso, IN
lives and works in Brooklyn, NY

Education

2002
M.F.A., Ohio University, Athens, OH

1999
B.A., University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

Solo Exhibitions

2026
Horns, Holes, Skins, and Branches, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York

2024
Night Hike and Ocean Grandma, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2020
Skeleton Woman, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2019
Soul Shell, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2013
Joy Curtis, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2011
Empty is Run About Freely, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2009
Joy Curtis, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2007
Amphibological Displays, HQ, Brooklyn, NY

2002
Counter, Seigfred Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, OH

1999
Pyooraktivity, Black Box Theater, Cedar Falls, IA

Group Exhibitions

2026
Offset Registers, curated by Johnny g Mullen, Peninsula Art Space, New York, NY

2025
La Banda 2025, Tappeto Volante Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2024
All Tomorrow’s Parties, Art Cake, Brooklyn, NY

2023
Fibration, L’Space, New York, NY

2022
One Eye Open, Conduit Gallery, Reservoir Studios, Ridgewood, Queens, NY
Tectonic Threads, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
Jung Lovers, Soloway Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
BROKEN OPEN: An exploration of the body as a resource, Museum of New Art, Portsmouth, NH
Fragmentary Blue, The Hotchkiss Tremaine Art Gallery, Lakeville, CT
87 Franklin Inaugural, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY

2021
With Every Fiber, curated by Anki King, Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NY

2020
Cult of the Crimson Queen, curated by Michelle Segre, Ceysson & Bénétière, NY

2019
Counterpointe, Actor’s Fund Art Center, Brooklyn, NY

2017
The Spooky Show, curated by Neesh Interactive, Aquarius, Queens, NY
Baggage Claim, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, New York, NY
Throat Chakra, organized by Christine Heindl, Songs for Presidents, Ridgewood, NY

2016
Weight Over Time, curated by Vincent Como, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY
Ecco Domus, curated by Enrico Gomez, Art House Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
Rational Curves, curated by Robert Otto Epstein, Matteawan Gallery, Beacon, NY
Drawing for Sculpture, curated by Courtney Puckett, Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY
‘Til Death Do We Part, Lorimoto, Ridgewood, NY

2015
On the Inner and Outer Self, Church of St. Paul the Apostle, New York, NY
Object’hood, curated by Inna Babaeva and Gelah Penn, Lesley Heller, New York, NY
Pleasures of the Flesh, Outpost, Ridgewood, NY
Jewel, organized by Norte Maar and Andrea Bergart, Brooklyn, NY

2014
Communal Table, Bjorn Meyer-Ebrecht Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Mixtape, No.4 Studio, Brooklyn, NY
The Last Brucennial, 837 Washington Street, New York, NY

2013
Location, Location, Location, curated by Sun You, on a loading dock in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
Thanks, Lu Magnus, New York, NY

2012
Found Outside, curated by Alyson Baker and Richard Klein, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT
Low Epic, Chashama, New York, NY
Heros, Small Black Door, Ridgewood, NY
Sculpture Garden, The Onderdonk House, Ridgewood, NY
Wavers, EJ Hauser Studio, Brooklyn, NY
Undercover, Slag Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2011
Socrates Sculpture Park Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition, Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens, NY
The Finishers, curated by Ethan Greenbaum and Eric Gleason, The Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY
Tensile Strength, ZieherSmith, New York, NY
The Working Title, Bronx River Art Center, New York, NY (catalogue)
Temporary Antumbra Zone, curated by Udora Hajimik, Janet Kurnatowski Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2010
Painting and Sculpture: Foundation for Contemporary Art Benefit Exhibition, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York, NY
Painting Comes Alive!, curated by Erik den Breejen, Art Jail, New York, NY
On Display, curated by Hrag Vartanian, Storefront, Brooklyn, NY (Catalogue)
Eternal Return, Nurture Art, Brooklyn, NY
The Permanent Collection, Volume One, English Kills, Brooklyn, NY

2009
The Winning Hand, Workspace, Los Angeles, CA
Time Bandits II, Bushwick Open Spaces, Brooklyn, NY

2008
Tensegrity, Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Eggcartonopolis, HQ, Brooklyn, NY
Wagmag Benefit, Front Room Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Time Bandits and Portraits of Yoda, Bushwick Open Spaces, Brooklyn, NY

2007
Infrequently Asked Questions, ISE Cultural Foundation, New York, NY
On It, Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY

2005
Greater Brooklyn, CRG Gallery, New York, NY
In the Wake, Triple Candie, New York, NY

2004
Ohio University Alumni Exhibition, Ohio University, Athens, OH

2003
Unframed First Look, curated by Ross Bleckner, Peter Halley, and Sue Williams, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York, NY

2001
Cross Sections, Seigfred Gallery, Athens, OH

Bibliography

2024
Nature Woven in Fabric – Joy Curtis on Symbiosis and Sculpture, Mosaic Digest, November
Vartanian, Hrag, “8 Art Shows to See in New York City This May”, HyperAllergic, May 1
Buhe, Elizabeth, “Joy Curtis: Night Hike and Ocean Grandma”, The Brooklyn Rail, April 28
Gander, Brecht Wright, “The Bone Magic of Joy Curtis”, HyperAllergic, April 28

2023
Spector, Buzz, “Skeleton Woman”, december, vol. 33.2, January

2019
Fateman, Johanna, “Jennifer J. Lee / Joy Curtis”, The New Yorker, February 4

2017
Halle, Howard, “Check Out the Best Group Exhibitions at Galleries This Summer,” Time Out New York, July 14

2015
Meier, Allison, “Contemporary takes on the Self in a Manhattan Church”, HyperAllergic September 14

2014
Vartanian, Hrag, “NADA New York Does It Better Than Ever,” HyperAllergic, May 10

2011
Silver, Jocelyn, “Delicious Eye Candy at Socrates Sculpture Park”, HyperAllergic
Vartanian, Hrag, “Sculpture Today: A Discussion with Joy Curtis & Rachel Beach,” HyperAllergic, March 18
Archey, Karen, “At Klaus von Nichtssagend, Joy Curtis’ Stalactites Freshen Lower East Side Offerings,” Artinfo, March 15
Russeth, Andrew, “The Working Title, at the Bronx River Arts Center”, Sixteen Miles of String
Traux, Stephen, “Sculpting with Ruins or Imposing Force on Matter,” HyperAllergic, March 10
Richardson, Benjamin, “‘Empty is Run About Freely’ at Klaus von Nichtssagend Gallery,” Opening Ceremony New News, March 8

2010
Thelander, Emmy, “Sharon Butler, Joy Curtis, and Cathy Nan Quinlan ‘On Display,'” Brooklyn Exposed, August

2008
Griffin, Nora, “Tensegrity at Klaus von Nichtssagend,” ArtCritical.com
Kalm, James, “Tensegrity,” Wagmag, July 1
Vartanian, Hrag, “Bushwick Open Studios and Arts Festival,” HragVartanian.com

2007
Vartanian, Hrag, “A Tour of Bushwick Open Spaces 2007,” HragVartanian.com

2005
Wagner, James, “The CRG Gallery Goes to Brooklyn,” JamesWagner.com

Awards

2011
Emerging Artist Fellowship Socrates Sculpture Park, Long Island City, NY

2009
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space

2005
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Completion Grant

2002
Joan Mitchell Foundation Award Nominee

1999-02
Ohio University Scholarship and Teaching Associateship

2001
Harry Z. and Grace R. Foster Memorial Scholarship
Dafedalus Foundation Award Nominee

1998
Tostlebe-Ray Fine Art Scholarship
Norwest Bank Undergraduate Research Award

1997
University of Northern Iowa Undergraduate Research Award