ARTIST STATEMENT
Success in pageantry proved to be both my salvation as well as a burden. The limitations caused by my vision problems as well as the rejection and prejudices I experienced led me to seek out other means of fulfillment; this came in the form of beauty pageants and modeling. Using my experiences, I critique the unrealistic display of the “perfected” physical form and the pressures to attain it. I am both an insider and outsider of mainstream “beauty” and to bring both perspectives together, I became Miss Art World. I use this title throughout my work to question the dominating ideologies of beauty fused with the disturbing and obsessive struggle to obtain it.
ABOUT
Miss Art World (Katherine Cooksey) is a Los Angeles-based conceptual artist who uses performance and interdisciplinary art to deconstruct societal perceptions of beauty, body image, and gender. Her work, showcased at events like Art Basel Miami and the LA Art Show.
Miss Art World is not simply a persona, but a dynamic, evolving concept. Miss Art World's own journey, marked by a childhood diagnosis of an incurable eye disease and a paradoxical success in beauty pageants (holding titles like Teen Miss Hawaiian Tropic and Miss New York World), deeply informs her artwork. She confronts the inherent contradictions within beauty standards. She leverages the performative nature of pageantry to challenge the false dichotomy between femininity and feminism, reclaiming the "feminist feminine fighter" archetype. By embodying Miss Art World, she critiques the obsessive pursuit of an idealized physical form, drawing from her unique perspective as both an insider and outsider to mainstream beauty. The Miss Art World movement extends beyond herself to follow artists with similar ideas. See Royals page for more information.
Cooksey's artistic path is one of resilience and transformation. Despite an early discouragement from art due to her vision impairment, she pursued her passion, earning a BFA from California State University, Bakersfield, and an MFA from Pratt Institute. This journey, coupled with her experiences in pageantry, fuels her critique of societal pressures.
Beyond her artistic practice, Cooksey is a dedicated arts professional. As the Arts Coordinator for the City of Santa Clarita, she oversees exhibitions, manages public art projects, and contributes significantly to the cultural landscape. Her extensive experience includes roles at Gagosian, Studio Channel Islands Art Center, and participation in prestigious events like the LA Art Show and the Americans for the Arts Convention, solidifying her position as a leader in the arts community.