Julie Curtiss' 'La Femme Secrète' Is Part Art Sculpture, Part Treasure Chest

French artist Julie Curtiss explores identities once more with her latest work, titled La Femme Secrète. The piece was made exclusively for Case Studyo and is crafted out of ash and walnut wood, depicting a faceless woman’s head with luscious locks of hair.

Curtiss’ piece engages its owner as it also comes with a secret — it is part art, part treasure chest. This puzzle-like sculpture comes apart to reveal an interior cutout that can be used to store small personal objects, creating a connection between the owner and their edition of La Femme Secrète.

The piece measures at 11.8 x 10.2 x 8.6 inches and is limited to just 16 editions, as well as four artist proofs. Each are signed and numbered and come in a wooden screen-printed box.

The proceeds from one of the editions will benefit Artist Relief, an initiative that offers financial and informational support to artists affected by COVID-19 across the United States. Take a closer look at Julie Curtiss’ La Femme Secrète for Case Studyo in the gallery above.

Elsewhere in the art world, Isola Press has unveiled its latest project — a 12,000 slide photobook that captures the radical community of East London in the 1980s titled, The Rio Cinema Archive Book.

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We’re very pleased to announce ‘La Femme Secrète’ by Julie Curtiss @julietuyetcurtiss For her collaboration with @case_studyo Curtiss relished the opportunity to create an object that people can touch and have an intimate relationship with. ‘La Femme Secrète’ is a carefully constructed wooden sculptural object that also functions as a box, harbouring a secret compartment. The tiny treasure chest allows the owner to truly make the object his own by adding something personal to it; a secret only shared between collector and work of art. Fragmented bodies, faceless portraits of women and identities hidden between luscious locks of hair, the surreal works of Julie Curtiss present an enigmatic riddle, an invitation to reflect on the idea of an ever-changing self. Playing with the viewer’s gaze by carefully concealing and revealing, Curtiss entices the audience to actively engage with her work; completing the puzzle it presents with their own stories. ——— “La Femme Secrète” by Julie Curtiss Walnut & Ash wood Edition of 16 + 4 A.P.’S Size: H30cm x W26cm x D22cm (11,8 x 10,2 x 8,6 inches) Screen printed wood box Signed and numbered The proceeds from one of the editions will benefit @artistrelief ? @julietuyetcurtiss @antonkerngallery @whitecube #juliecurtiss #lafemmesecrète #wood #edition #casestudyo #artistrelief

A post shared by Case Studyo (@case_studyo) on May 28, 2020 at 5:59am PDT