Katherine Cusack is a dynamic and innovative artist whose work spans multiple disciplines, including visual arts, performance, theatre, and film. Born in Voronezh, Russia, and now living between Bologna, Italy, and Berlin, Germany, Cusack’s artistic journey reflects a rich tapestry of cultural influences and a deep commitment to pushing creative boundaries.
As a contemporary visual artist, Cusack is renowned for her bold explorations of human vulnerability and emotion. Her critically acclaimed “INFRA-RED” series, exhibited in Berlin in 2019, presented an intense journey through neon-lit nudes in red rooms to delve into the raw essence of human experience. Cusack challenged viewers to embrace their true selves, unafraid to be naked in body and spirit and started a conversation about self-identity, sexuality and our mental fragility.
Cusack’s theatrical background infuses her artistic practice with a unique performative element. As an accomplished actress and a young director, she has led innovative projects that blur the lines between traditional theatre and immersive experiences, focusing on accessibility and social engagement in the arts. Mixing classical theatre with sign language and performance art, Katherine developed a unique approach to storytelling, one that combines the visual and kinesthetic to convey complex emotions and themes. Her theatre works, such as “Juno and Avos” and “LOVE FOR LIFE“, have explored mental health, freedom, and self–discovery through a mix of sign language, light manipulation, physical theatre, and contemporary dance.
In the realm of film and visual media, Cusack brings her multifaceted talents to bear as a director, DOP, creative producer and performer. Her experience ranges from short films to music videos, where she consistently delivers visually striking and emotionally resonant content. Navigating the complexities of an immigrant life, questioning identity and sense of belonging gave birth to her recent short documentary THREE STORIES OF (not) MOVING AROUND – a story about foreign students in Italy navigating the bureaucratic system and societal oppression. Cusack’s artistic vision is deeply rooted in themes of identity, empowerment, and the intersection of personal and political realities. Her photography works bring another level of intimacy where exploration of self is done through the bodies and psyche of others.
With a background that includes fine arts training from Voronezh Art School and a Master’s Degree in Local Development from the University of Padua, Cusack brings a unique blend of creativity and a tangible purpose to her projects. In her art practice, Katherine is trying to find a balance between beauty, entertainment, sustainability and technology.
Katherine Cusack’s work has been featured in galleries and cultural spaces across Europe, including Berlin’s “Blah-Blah Projectraum” gallery and Moscow’s Cultural Centre “Come-In”. Her ability to seamlessly integrate various artistic disciplines makes her a sought-after collaborator for cutting-edge projects in the contemporary art scene.
As Cusack continues to evolve as an artist, she remains committed to creating work that challenges perceptions, ignites conversations, and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression. Her current interest in technology and internal conflict about environmental and moral issues in the rise of AI led to collaboration with Giacomo Bertapelle, an Italian tech enthusiast whose practice explores the intersection of psychology and digital fabrication. Together, Cusack and Bertapelle founded an art collective – BLUE STATIC where, driven by a shared desire to reimagine the boundaries of artistic authorship, they conduct research on human interaction with artificial intelligence and craft poetic systems that question who—or what—gets to be seen, heard, and remembered.