Patricia Dreyfus

Statement

In my work, I explore diverse techniques and media to construct a world of human figures and symbols. My art confronts deeply personal questions—origin, identity, gender, and the complexities of being a woman—in an increasingly uncertain and complex world.
I work in series, moving fluidly between drawing, embroidery, and sculpture. Each series builds a universe born from my personal reality, shaped by keen observation and...

In my work, I explore diverse techniques and media to construct a world of human figures and symbols. My art confronts deeply personal questions—origin, identity, gender, and the complexities of being a woman—in an increasingly uncertain and complex world.
I work in series, moving fluidly between drawing, embroidery, and sculpture. Each series builds a universe born from my personal reality, shaped by keen observation and introspection. Rooted in feminist thought, my work challenges societal norms and invites reflection, carrying traces of poetry and irony while remaining accessible and resonant with others.

Patricia Dreyfus was born in 1951 in Dakar, Senegal, and grew up in Paris. At the age of 16, she decided to live independently. She began her career in the video film industry alongside the father of her first daughter, who was a filmmaker. During this time, she learned film editing and directing. After their separation, she continued making art documentaries under her maiden name, Patricia Gerber. Her subjects included Shirley Goldfarb, an American painter living in Paris, and Boris Tissot, a sculptor working with shortcrust pastry. She also collaborated with Roberto Matta. These films accompanied artists‘ exhibitions at the Centre Georges Pompidou, the
Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Pontoise Museum, and other prestigious venues. Alongside her work as a videographer, Patricia Dreyfus studied art from 1982 to 1984, focusing on drawing and sculpture. She trained with Gregory Mazurovsky at the American Center and attended courses at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. During this period, she produced numerous bronze sculptures. With Pierre Dreyfus, she founded a corporate film production company, one of whose films won an award at the Biarritz Festival in 1987. The couple had three children. The tragic death of their youngest son in 1992 pro- foundly changed their lives, and the family relocated to Basel. Patricia Dreyfus then left industrial film production to devote herself entirely to her artistic work. Following her separation, she has lived and worked in Berlin since 2012.

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In my work, I explore diverse techniques and media to construct a world of human figures and symbols. My art confronts deeply personal questions—origin, identity, gender, and the complexities of being a woman—in an increasingly uncertain and complex world.
I work in series, moving fluidly between drawing, embroidery, and sculpture. Each series builds a universe born from my personal reality, shaped by keen observation and introspection. Rooted in feminist thought, my work challenges societal norms and invites reflection, carrying traces of poetry and irony while remaining accessible and resonant with others.

Patricia Dreyfus was born in 1951 in Dakar, Senegal, and grew up in Paris. At the age of 16, she decided to live independently. She began her career in the video film industry alongside the father of her first daughter, who was a filmmaker. During this time, she learned film editing and directing. After their separation, she continued making art documentaries under her maiden name, Patricia Gerber. Her subjects included Shirley Goldfarb, an American painter living in Paris, and Boris Tissot, a sculptor working with shortcrust pastry. She also collaborated with Roberto Matta. These films accompanied artists‘ exhibitions at the Centre Georges Pompidou, the
Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the Pontoise Museum, and other prestigious venues. Alongside her work as a videographer, Patricia Dreyfus studied art from 1982 to 1984, focusing on drawing and sculpture. She trained with Gregory Mazurovsky at the American Center and attended courses at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. During this period, she produced numerous bronze sculptures. With Pierre Dreyfus, she founded a corporate film production company, one of whose films won an award at the Biarritz Festival in 1987. The couple had three children. The tragic death of their youngest son in 1992 pro- foundly changed their lives, and the family relocated to Basel. Patricia Dreyfus then left industrial film production to devote herself entirely to her artistic work. Following her separation, she has lived and worked in Berlin since 2012.

Patricia Dreyfus