Cathy Leff Awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

November 2023
 

On Friday, November 17, surrounded by friends and family, Mrs. Cathy Leff, along with artist Edouard Duval Carrie, was awarded the Medal of the "ordre des Arts et des Lettres". This is among the highest civil honors bestowed by the French Republic and recognizes individuals for their contribution to French arts, culture, and heritage.

​​​​​​Ms. Cathy Leff, director for 18 years of The Wolfsonian-FIU, then, since 2018, of Bakehouse Art Complex, a community exhibition and workspace to 100 Miami-based artists, has constantly developed projects dedicated to French heritage and the contemporary art scene, such as "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity" dedicated to French design in 2011 during Art Basel Miami, in collaboration with the CNAP (Centre national des arts plastiques). She is a leading figure for the Villa Albertine in Miami, which she helped to launch in 2021, and is involved in numerous agreements and #partnerships with French institutions such as the Cité internationale des arts, and the Friche la Belle de Mai in Marseille. 

The Honorable Raphael Trapp, Consul General of France in Miami, bestowed this this award  to Ms. Leff for her long-standing commitment to various artistic communities present in Miami, and her contribution to France's presence in the region.