What does the Art world look like 50 years after the original citywide festival of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts of 1974?
That is the question which (re)FOCUS answers. Philadelphia’s visual arts institutions—over 40 of its museums, art schools, and galleries have come together to celebrate the spirit of today and to show how the movement for inclusivity and diversity in the art world which was initiated by young women artists, art historians, educators, and curators in 1974 has come to fruition in today’s Philadelphia. The dozens of exhibitions, panels, and lectures mounted in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1974 FOCUS reveal a different art world, one which includes at the center rather than the periphery, Black, brown, Indigenous and gender non-conforming artists , art historians, curators, and educators. Please enjoy and celebrate with us from January through May!
ABOUT (re)FOCUS 2024
(re)FOCUS: Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts, January 27 - May 31, 2024
(re)FOCUS celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists. With over 150 exhibitions, panels, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations it was one of the first large-scale surveys of the work of contemporary American women artists, signaling the inception of the American Feminist Art Movement. (re)FOCUS 2024 is also a Philadelphia citywide festival showing how women-identified and BIPOC artists have moved from the periphery to the center of the art world. Like its 1974 predecessor, (re)FOCUS is a collaboration among Philadelphia's large, small, and diverse visual arts institutions.
Organized by Judith K. Brodsky and Diane Burko with the assistance of Marsha Moss
Brodsky and Burko were members of the committee that organized the 1974 FOCUS. Burko was the originator. They have continued to be identified with Philadelphia. Diane Burko is one of Philadelphia’s most prominent artists. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally. She is especially well known for her paintings about climate change. Artist, writer, curator, activist, entrepreneur Judith K. Brodsky founded the print center which is now The Brodsky Center at PAFA (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts). Marsha Moss, public art curator and consultant for major commissions and Director of Sculpture Outdoors and The Artfront Partnership, is renowned as a transformative force in Philadelphia through her passionate advocacy for public art.
Coordinator: Jack Stawowczyk
Logo design: Isabel Kokko
Web design: Jack Stawowczyk and Isabel Kokko
(re)FOCUS is partially funded by The Forman Arts Initiative
The Forman Arts Initiative is a platform to connect and support artists and cultural organizations in Philadelphia bringing resources to the arts and art to communities.