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Cathy Breslaw, Los Angeles contemporary artist has been featured in over 37 solo exhibitions and has participated in over 50 group exhibitions across the U.S. in museums, art centers, college, university and commercial galleries. Breslaw’s work is in many private and corporate collections and 3 works are in the collection of the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art, Seoul Korea. She holds an MFA from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont,(CA) and received two fellowships. Breslaw holds a BA in American Studies from George Washington University and an MSW, masters degree in Social Work from Howard University in Washington D.C. Since the 90’s Breslaw has been exhibiting professionally while exploring and expanding her art practice, continually experimenting to include accessible commercial materials.
Breslaw has been a speaker at colleges and universities, teaches Art History at Coastline College, and was a contributing writer for Art Scene magazine of So California, San Diego Home and Garden, Artillery Magazine, Jonathan Magazine, Vanguard Culture and artfullifebycathy.blogspot.com. She was chair of the Carlsbad Arts Commission, a Jonathan Art Foundation board member, and juror for various exhibitions in San Diego County.
Breslaw has been a speaker at colleges and universities, teaches Art History at Coastline College, and was a contributing writer for Art Scene magazine of So California, San Diego Home and Garden, Artillery Magazine, Jonathan Magazine, Vanguard Culture and artfullifebycathy.blogspot.com. She was chair of the Carlsbad Arts Commission, a Jonathan Art Foundation board member, and juror for various exhibitions in San Diego County.
The Interview
At what point in your life did you know that you wanted to become an artist? Did the realization emerge slowly?
As a child I was drawn to art-making. It was not a conscious choice and more of a preference. Over several years, sparked by private art classes( I always found my school art classes to be boring as it was always a “project” where we were guided to follow a process to complete a specific project – I intuitively knew this was not art-making). In a way, I became an artist through the “back door” – I made art side-by-side along with a well-rounded education, majoring in American Studies in college and then through jobs, a masters degree in Psychiatric Social Work, and sales and marketing jobs etc. I began showing and selling my work in the early 90’s. After my sons were in high school, I recognized a need to stretch myself art-wise and proceeded to art school receiving an MFA in painting in 2006. The studio environment of graduate school with fellow artists was a dream come true – fertile ground for growth as an artist and making art and since then I’ve felt comfortable calling myself an ‘artist’.
How did you evolve your style and favorite mediums?
From the beginning, I was intuitively and naturally drawn to an abstract style. As a painter, I began with watercolors because I have always been curious about light and color and layers of transparency. I have expanded my work from painting and drawing into using painted transparent fabrics, as well as creating installations and working with a range of materials that have called to me: tyvex papers, translucent vellum, plastics, pastels, acrylic paints – bamboo strands, wires, commercial mesh and more. I continue to be open to any and all materials that call to me.
What are your time management techniques? Do you have regular working hours...or favorite times to work?
I have always prioritized and believe in having self-discipline. I rely on it. I work everyday – depending on other projects ( also teach Art History at a college and am an arts writer where I review art exhibitions mostly of museum shows.) After early morning exercise I am in my studio space – sometimes I am directly working on art work, and sometimes I am doing research, communicating with other artists, reaching out to curators, galleries, etc, or responding to calls for art etc. Over years I have realized my prime times to work are roughly between 8 am to 4 pm.
Do you work on more than one piece at a time, or primarily just on one?
Generally, I would say that I work on one piece at a time but sometimes this may vary. I tend to work in “bodies of work” with a particular idea that I am wanting to investigate and follow, exploring ideas as I go.
What would you say is your biggest influence--that which keeps you working, regardless of all else, your most steadfast motivation?
I have a need to create which extends to many areas of my life – in art making as well as in cooking, in my curiosity about themes of spirituality, meditation, wellness, culture and other things. I would say my prime motivation is my desire to spend my time playing, learning and hopefully growing as a person and as an artist being cognizant of looking for connections among all areas of my life. I believe it is the totality of my life that infuses my art.
Does trying something new and not knowing the rules -- the boundary pushing -- create anxiety or excitement in you? (Or both?)
Definitely not knowing the rules, boundary-pushing etc creates anticipation and excitement! I have never been good at following rules and I have a strong tendency to want to push boundaries when it comes to making art. (However in other aspects of life I do follow rules as when it comes to laws, etc.)
Do you enjoy having the "duality of both chaos and control" or are you happiest with a set plan?
I totally accept the ‘duality of both chaos and control’. Unless I am well into the making part of creating art where I know the ‘plan’ and how to proceed, I don’t really have a plan per se and have never had. I begin with research and exploring ideas and sometimes may create a rough drawing, but most always I am experimenting with how to solve how to go about evolving a particular work of art. I stay away from mentally completing a particular work as I am in the process of making, attempting to stay in the moment.
Do you have any projects or events forthcoming?
Currently I am back and forth working on pastel drawings and large scale textile works. There are times when I discard some of what I create while others make it to completion
Flashes of Light
58" x 46"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$3,900
58" x 46"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$3,900
Just Passing Through
64" x 56.5"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$ 8,500
64" x 56.5"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$ 8,500
Patches of Light
48" x 47"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$3,900
48" x 47"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$3,900
Sail Away
78" x 57"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$10,000
78" x 57"
painted transparent fabrics, filled with transparent fabric
2023
$10,000
Contact the artist directly:
[email protected]
webpage www.cathybreslaw.com,
https://www.saatchiart.com/cathybreslaw
https://www.facebook.com/CathyBreslawContemporaryVisualArtist
instagram @ cathybreslaw
[email protected]
webpage www.cathybreslaw.com,
https://www.saatchiart.com/cathybreslaw
https://www.facebook.com/CathyBreslawContemporaryVisualArtist
instagram @ cathybreslaw