Carmelle Safdie is a New York City based artist, musician, and archivist. She has participated in three biennial exhibitions at the Queens Museum, where she exhibited a commissioned installation in 2012. Major works have also been shown at Sikkema Jenkins & Co. in NYC, Franklin Street Works in Stamford, CT, and Palazzo Cavour in Turin, Italy. For over a decade Safdie has collaborated with numerous bands and musicians, touring and releasing records internationally. In 2010 her band Beachniks performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to her studio-based work, Safdie is director of the Irwin Rubin Archive, where she’s in the process of researching, cataloging, and writing about the artist’s works and teachings.
EDUCATION
MFA, Painting, Bard College, Annandale on Hudson, NY, 2012
BFA, Cooper Union, New York, NY, 2004
RESIDENCIES
2016
Wagon Station Encampment at A-Z West, Joshua Tree, CA
2015
The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough, NH
Downstairs 87 at Leftfield Bar, New York, NY (commissioned public residency and event series)
2014
The Corporation of Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY
2013
The Shandaken Project, Shandaken, NY
2008
The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Bethany, CT
Art Farm, Marquette, NE
Vermont Studio Center (artist’s grant), Johnson, VT
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022
Pink Flamingo: Clubs in Flux, organized by Flux Factory, curated by Jess Didlay and Anton Lapov, the Cell Theater, New York, NY
2019
Fish House 2.0, organized by Yuri Masnyj, Sam Draxler, and Adriana Farmiga, Cooper Union's Hamilton Fish House, New York, NY (through 2020)
2018
Please, save the date!, (with Sophy Naess) curated by Marie Boivent, Lendroit Editions Galerie, Renne, France *
2017
Love Action Art Lounge, curated by Terri C. Smith, Franklin Street Works, Stamford, CT * ±
Minimal Mostly, presented by Deborah Ronnen Fine Art at R1 Studio, Rochester, NY
Cura(Collected), organized by Sessa Englund with Anjuli Rathod, Eduardo Restrepo Castaño, and Oscar Moises Diaz, The Knockdown Center, Queens, NY
2016
A Frame Apart, Queens International 2016 Short Film Program, curated by Prerana Reddy, Queens Museum, Queens, NY
Forever Young, curated by Nicolas de Ribou, The Loft, Brussels, Belgium (through 2018)
:Digits to Digital:, curated by Regine Basha, Context Special Projects, Pier 94, New York, NY
recap: thirty years of momenta art, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY
2015
Do You Have ‘Barbaric Taste’?, curated by Les Commissaires Anonymes and Nicolas de Ribou, Poppositions, Canal Wharf, Brussels, Belgium
Good Neighbor, curated by Amanda Donnan, Hedreen Gallery at Seattle University, Seattle, WA
2014
The Shandaken Project Retrospective Exhibition, 59 East 4th Street, New York, NY
CHOICES Swap Meet, The Smile Face Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Autonomy Exchange Archive, curated by Paul Branca and Lisa Hayes Williams, West, The Hague, The Netherlands
Roving Room, curated by Kelly Kaczynski and Cori Williams, Habersham Mills, Demorest, GA
2013
Repertory, curated by Gary Carrion-Murayari, One Torino #1, Palazzo Cavour, Turin, Italy (through 2014)*
I Am The Magic Hand, organized by Josephine Halvorson, Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York, NY
Queens International 2013, curated by Meiya Cheng and Hitomi Iwasaki, Queens Museum, Queens, NY (performance with Juan Wauters and Matthew Volz) *
Your Content Will Return Shortly, curated by Terri C. Smith, Franklin Street Works, Stamford, CT
CHOICES Thrift Store, hosted by Garden Party/Arts, Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY * °
2012
Queens International 2012: Three Points Make a Triangle, curated by Larissa Harris, Jamillah James, and Manuela Moscoso, Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY * ±
Fruit And Vegetable Stand, organized by Paul Branca, Queens Boulevard, Queens, NY
CHOICES Thrift Store at Bazaar, Soloway Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
The End(s) Of The Library, organized by David Horvitz, curated by Jenny Jaskey, Goethe-Institut Library, New York, NY
24HRS/25DAYS: In Color, New Capital Projects, Chicago, IL
2011
A Person Of Color/A Mostly Orange Exhibition, curated by José Lerma, The Green Gallery East, Milwaukee, WI
An Exchange With Sol LeWitt, curated by Regine Basha, Cabinet, Brooklyn, NY (and MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA) *
2010
Pure Beauty: Baldessari at the Met, organized by College Group, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (performance with Beachniks)
The Artist At Work, organized by Sophy Naess, Recess Activities, New York, NY
Threshold Magic, curated by Tristan Shepherd, Former Convent of St. Cecelia’s Parish, Brooklyn, NY
2008
Carmelle Safdie: Paintings, Heist Gallery, New York, NY °
Family Show, La Mama La Galleria, New York, NY
* exhibition catalog
± commission of new work
° solo exhibition
PUBLIC TALKS AND PRESENTATIONS
2020
Online Artist Talk and Study Group Discussion, Relational Archiving: Color Theory and Memory, on the Irwin Rubin Archive and Vera Ronnen Archive, moderated by Sena Başöz, SALT Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey
2017
Artist Talk and Gallery Tour, Franklin Street Works, Stamford, CT
2016
Screening and Panel Discussion, Queens Museum, Queens, NY
2015
Panel Discussion, Future Forecasting with First Rate Second Hand, with Sophy Naess, moderated by Mary Walling Blackburn, for The Classroom, curated by David Senior for the Printed Matter New York Art Book Fair, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY
2008
Artist Talk and Visiting Critic, Alternative Artist Lecture Series, Bennington College, Bennington, VT
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Publications and Editions
Desert Destination Log, Joshua Tree Area Thrift Guide, trifold insert, High Desert Test Sites and A-Z West, 2018
Resolving Host, book cover design, each in a risograph edition of 100, 2016-present
First Rate Second Hand Calendars, self-published annually in an edition of 200 with Sophy Naess, distributed by Printed Matter, 2006-2015
Emergency Index 2012, CHOICES Thrift Store, p. 276-277, Ugly Duckling Press, 2013
Newsprint Edition #7, silkscreen poster, designed with Paul Branca, edition of 35, Colpa Press, 2012
Will I Grow Up To Paint A Square? silkscreen sheet music, edition of 100, self published, 2010
Discography
Discovery of The Shape, Carmelle and the Intro Factory, self-released digital single, 2016 ¬ • ◊
Wearing Leather Wearing Fur, Juan Wauters and Carmelle, CT-211, Captured Tracks, 2015 ¬ • ◊
In Color, Beachniks, self-released digital and limited edition vinyl LP, 2013 ¬ • ◊
In Color, Beachniks, casette edition, NR!-004, Neotomic Records, 2013 ¬ • ◊
N.A.P. — North American Poetry, Juan Wauters feat. Carmelle, CT-190, Captured Tracks, 2013 ¬ ◊
Split 7", Beachniks/Smilelove, BG003, Bleeding Gold Records, 2012 ¬ •
Split 7", Crystal Stilts/Comet Gain, WISH 16/FPOP115, Slumberland Records and Fortuna Pop, 2011 ◊
Passion of the Pops, The Puddin’ Pops, HH-7/FOKP-1, Haunted Horse/What’s Your Rupture?, 2011 ¬
Funky Head EP, Beachniks, CT-031, Captured Tracks, 2009 ¬ • ◊
¬ musical performance
• songwriting/arrangement
◊ record cover artwork/design
Features and Reviews
2018
AQNB, Photos, Cura(Collected) collaborative show by artists who curate at Knockdown Center, January 25
2017
City Newspaper, Arts & Entertainment, ‘Minimal Mostly’ exhibit highlights Minimalism and its legacy, May 31
Filthy Dreams, Politics of Hanging Out: ‘Love Action Art Lounge’ At Franklin Street Works, May 5
Frieze.com, Frieze Playlist: Christine Sun Kim, Romeo Chang (Instrumental Party Mix), January 3
Independent Collectors, Hidden: Servais Family Collection — Forever Young
2016
Hymn.se, TITTA: Carmelle and the Intro Factory — “Discovery of The Shape,” May 6
The Big Takeover, Video Premiere, “Discovery of The Shape” by Carmelle and the Intro Factory: Design Theory Meets Dance-pop on the Streets of New York’s Lower East Side, April 26
Guest of a Guest, Nightlife Underground: 10 Subterranean Spots to Party in NYC, January 15
2015
Aperture Books, Self Publish, Be Happy: A DIY Photobook Manual and Manifesto, September
Creative Capital, On Our Radar, March
2014
Paris, LA, The Smile Face Museum :), April 23
2013
Sky Arte, Artissima 2013, December 10
Mousse Magazine, One Torino: “Repertory”at Palazzo Cavour, November 11
Yew Journal, Kelly+Safdie, October
The New York Times, Art In Review: ‘I Am the Magic Hand’ – Antony: ‘The Cut’, June 28
The New York Observer, On View:‘I Am The Magic Hand’ at Sikkema Jenkins & Co., June 17
Artforum.com, Critics’ Picks: Your Content Will Return Shortly, March 11
The Realness, The Foundation, BEACHNIKS In Color, February 15
2012
Gazzetta, Featured Artists: Carmelle Safdie and Paul Branca, October-November
Information, Kunst fra en kirkegård i Queens, July 25
Artlog, Queens International: Journeys to Inner and Outer Worlds, April 19
The New Yorker, Queens International 2012: Three Points Make a Triangle, March 5
The New York Times, Arts and Leisure: The Week Ahead, February 5
Wall Street Journal, A Frame-by-Frame Show-and-Tell, January 14-15
2011
Thaylor, Carmelle Safdie, Interview by Danielle Levy, June 2
2010
Financial Times Magazine, Art House Hits, Issue 249, October 16
The Village Voice: Yes In My Backyard, Hungover At Coney Island With The Beachniks, January 7
Hyperallergic, The Brucennial: Piece by Piece(Part 1 of 5), March 15
2008
Art News, Reviews: Carmelle Safdie, Volume 107/Number 8, September
Grand Island Independent, A New Crop Of Art, September 27
2005
Fluent-Collaborative, Sisters, Issue 40, January 31