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Josephine Cachemaille is an installation artist who makes objects and assemblages. She has a deeply anthropomorphic methodology, approaching materials as sensuous bodies with agency, often describing them as alive, as “collaborators”, as a family. In this sense, she is exploring the potential of art-making as magical, as a kind of relational ontology, as a way to challenge consensus reality.

Josephine says her intersubjective approach to materials kindles attachments and enduring affectionate relationships between herself and the final works, which often evoke bodies or entities. These pieces then populate installations which operate as psychological landscapes rich in symbolic visual language, that she can examine, order, and arrange as she thinks through tender things. 

The making processes and the final works themselves are concerned with cultivating receptivity to states of wonder and enchantment that make her feel connected to the world in ways that are meaningful. She says that rather than offering escape, or a flight from reality, this can foster a sense of care and ethical concern for our futures.

Josephine is represented by Sanderson Contemporary in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland. She has won significant national art awards and had multiple solo and public exhibitions nationally and internationally, including representing New Zealand at the Beijing Biennale 2019.  Josephine has a post graduate diploma in Fine Art and a degree in Psychology. She lives in Whakatū Nelson with her husband, writer and music journalist Grant Smithies.

Selected Exhibitions

2026

  • BOOsT with Lisa Walker at The National, Christchurch Otautahi

2025

  • New Psychic Life at Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makarau

2024

  • Embellish group show with Lisa Walker, Sung Hwan Bobby Parke, Hannah Shim, Julia Holderness, Iza Lozano and Arapeta Hakura at Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makarau

  • A Show of Hands at The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson, New Zealand curated by Kyla Mackenzie 

2023

  • Buildings Need Jewellery solo project presentation with Family Jewels Records for Nelson Jewellery Week, Whakatu Nelson

  • A Steady Gaze group show with Vanessa Arthur, Nicola Shanley, Sam Kelly and Reece King at Space Gallery, Napier

2022

  • Everybody SoundSystem collaborative project, Enjoy Contemporary Art Space, Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara ( August - September 2022)

  • Be Soft Be Strong solo, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Back to the Garden solo presentation, Threads Textile Festival, Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara

2021

2020

  • She’s a Force solo, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Material Slip group show, University of Wyoming Art Museum, Wyoming, USA

    http://www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum/exhibitions/archives/2020/material-slip/index.html

2019

  • New Zealand Presentation Beijing Biennale 2019, Beijing, China

  • Sanderson Contemporary Art at Sydney Art Fair, Australia

  • OLD ENERGIES project installation, Wallace Arts Trust Pah Homestead, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • The 27th Annual Wallace Art Awards 2019: Exhibition of Winners and Finalists, Pah Homestead, Auckland, Pataka Art and Museum, Wellington, The Suter Gallery, Nelson; and CoCA, Christchurch

2018 

  • FEELS installation, Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • MY RELICS NOT MY RELICS solo, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Material Slip group show, The University of Hawai’i, Honolulu, Hawai’i

  • Finalist Exhibition: The Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards, Whakatane Museum and Arts

2017 

  • US, US, US solo show, The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson, New Zealand 

  • Finalist Exhibition: The Molly Morpeth Canaday Awards, Whakatane Museum and Arts

  • The 26th Annual Wallace Art Awards 2017: Exhibition of Winners and Finalists, Pataka Art and Museum, Wellington

  • Sanderson Contemporary Art at Sydney Art Fair, Australia

2016 

  • FEEL UP! solo, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Same as it ever was solo show, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • The 25th Annual Wallace Art Awards 2016: Exhibition of Winners and Finalists,  Pah Homestead Auckland, and Wallace Gallery Morrinsville

  • The National Contemporary Art Awards Finalists 2016, Waikato Museum, Hamilton

2014 

  • Active Agents / Passive Matter solo show, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Sanderson Contemporary Art at Melbourne Art Fair, Australia

  • The 23rd Annual Wallace Art Awards 2016, Pah Homestead, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Testing Testing solo show, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson Whakatu

  • Tools of the Trade group show, Paul Nache Gallery, Gisborne

2013 

  • Give me the light solo show, Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Cruel City, group show, The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson Whakatu

  • Sanderson Contemporary Art at Auckland Art Fair

2012 

  • I can change solo show, Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Creep group show, Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

2011 

  • Recover solo show, Nelson Marlborough Institute ofTechnology Gallery, Nelson Whakatu

  • Sanderson Contemporary Art at Auckland Art Fair

2010 

  • Artist in Focus at The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatu, Nelson Whakatu

  • Salvation solo show, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Are You Positive? solo show, Corridor Gallery: experimental art space, Nelson Whakatu

2009 

  • The Universe Will Provide! solo show, Red Gallery, Nelson Whakatu

  • Self Help solo show, Sanderson Contemporary, Auckland Tamaki Makaurau

  • Far Far Away group show curated by Karl Chitham at Rawene Public Art Gallery

Awards

  • Joya contemporary international artists and writers residency, Andalucia, Spain 2023

  • Molly Morpeth Canaday 3D Award Merit Prize 2018

  • Molly Morpeth Canaday 2D Award Merit Prize 2017

  • Wallace Art Awards Jury Prize 2016 (Collaborative project)

  • National Contemporary Art Awards Merit Prize 2016 (Collaborative project)

  • The Wallace Art Awards Finalist 2014, 2016, 2018 

  • Best Visual Arts Award, Dunedin Fringe Festival 2008