BIO

Born in Prague in the middle of the last century in the former Czechoslovakia.
Following the Soviet occupation in the 60's, immigrated with family to Israel.
Early 70's, moved to Italy and attended the Academia di Belle Arti in Rome.
Early 80's, immigrated to New York with daughter Anatea and started working in the fashion industry.
Mid 80's, founded ZUZKA collection and travelled extensively to India, Vietnam, Burma, Ghana, Thailand and Europe in search of textiles and worked directly with hand weavers and embroiderers who realized her intricate designs.

Over 22 years, ZUZKA for FABRICOLOGY Inc. (www.zuzka.com) was established as a luxury brand in women's wear and home furnishing stores distinguished by vibrant colors and exquisite textures. At the same time, Zuzka Kurtz was designing costumes for dance and opera using innovative fibers experimenting with sculptural forms and using textiles as her primary medium.

2006
Costume design for "She lost her voice that how we knew" an original opera by Valeria Vasilevski (http://home.earthlink.net/~reduta/slhv.html ), music by Francis White with Soprano Kristin Norderval. Performed in the Rubin Museum of Art in NY (www.rmanyc.org) and Portugal.

2008
Creates Optical Fiber costumes for http://home.earthlink.net/~reduta/slhv.html Music by Scriabin choreography by Wendy Osserman (www.wendyossermandance.org) performed at the Baryshnikov Art Center in NYC (www.bacny.org). Optical fiber fabric donated by www.luminex.it

2009
Zuzka Kurtz's first art installation MY INNER SOLE curated by Pat Lenz opens at the SlaughterhouseSpace Gallery (www.slaughterhousespace.com) in Healdsburg California. MY INNER SOLE a sculpture and video installation with music by Kristin Norderval (www.norderval.org) and videos by Liz Magic Laser (www.lizmagiclaser.com) and her husband Steven Kimelman.

Writes and publish MY INNER SOLE, an artist book, design by Oriana Reich (www.orianareich.com), and photographs by Michael Hnatov photography (www.mhnatov.com)

Costume Styling for "More is more or less" for Wendy Osserman dance company and musician Iva Bittova (www.bittova.com) performed at the Joyce SoHo NYC (www.joyce.org).

Costumes design for "Our Lady of Detritus" A dance and music performance by Jill Sigman (www.thinkdance.org) and Kristine Norderval (www.norderval.org) performed in www.solar1.org and in other various public locations throughout NYC.

Serves on the Global Advisory Board of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (www.humiliationstudies.org)

Currently lives in New York City with her husband Steve and a red cat.