The sad news came through on Facebook yesterday that much respected and loved artist Katthy Cavaliere had died on January 23rd, 2012. She was 39 years old. Katthy had been diagnosed with cancer six months ago and after suffering a stroke on New Year’s Eve she was admitted to hospital. She passed away peacefully on Monday evening. She described her practice as conceptually based “working within a multidisciplinary practice” and included photography, performance, installation, site-specific projects and drawing. On her web site she described work as using “real and poignant material from her life and creates a personal almost biographical thread in her work to date”.
Born in Sarteano, Tuscany, Italy in 1972 she attended the University of NSW College of Fine Art in Sydney for her BA and MFA and later studied at Fondazione Ratti Advanced Course in Visual Arts in Como and the Accademia di Belle Arti, Brera, Milano, Italy. Visiting Professor Marina Abramovic took an interest in Katthy’s work and was considered by Katthy as a mentor. Katthy exhibited widely in solo and group shows in ARIs, international galleries and in 2011 a video work Loved was included in The Venice Biennale.
Katthy was well known in Sydney’s art scene and was admired for her commitment, passion and support for fellow artists. A friend of The Art Life, she will be missed.
Update: A funeral service will be held at Woronora General Cemetery and Crematorium, 121 Linden St, Sutherland, Tuesday 31 January at 2pm.
Pictured: Loved, Performance, 2008. Artspace 25th Anniversary ARTSPACE 24/25.
Katthy was a leading light, an artist who experimented successfully in many media whilst remaining true to her aesthetic. She will be so sadly missed by so many people whose lives she touched.
Rest in peace, Katthy.
A sad and terrible loss to the Australian art community.
What a loss, Katthy was a warm loving and talented young women with so much to still give and experience. warm memories will live on with me.
I am choked up at hearing the terrible news last night. My last meeting with Katthy was accidental…on the street in Surry Hills ……she was occupied with something amorous near Ray Hughes Gallery in Surry Hills (it was quite late at night) and of course she let me ‘in’ on her ‘wanting to get in’. Katthy’s sensibilities were open layers. During this encounter (escapade really) she also managed to convey her terrible loss of a friend….her mother….who had died from cancer just a month prior. I was so touched by her expressions of grief and despair.
I am prompted to ponder the terrible fortitude which Katthy must have mustered to face her own illness, having witnessed so recently that of her mothers. I hope her most lovely soul is able to now rest in peace after such a remarkable conquest.
I met katthy at hill end, fun and loving fantastic company with great enthusiasm for life and artI’m still shocked at her loss vale katthy
Goodbye Katthy. I could always trust your heartfelt, honest and open responses to life and to art. Rest in peace.
Ciao Katthy,
Sono felice di averti conosciuto
<3