BIOGRAPHY
Joseph “Watchman” Kaliher was born in a hippie community near Dallas, Texas, USA. At the age of two, his mother took him to live in Italy with her and her second husband, Duke Emanuele Canevaro of Zoagli.
Raised in both Italy and England, he received private lessons in classical art tradition from Maestro Maurizio Martelli of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence.
He later graduated from the renowned Institute Superieur de Peinture Van Der Kelen et Longelain in Brussels, where he specialized in trompe l’oeil painting under the guidance of the late Maestro Clemente Van Der Kelen.
Joseph’s talent and practice, along with his eclectic personality, allowed him to explore a wide variety of visual arts fields: from interior decoration to portraiture, from surrealist painting to conceptual art. His work in the surrealist genre is, in fact, an interpretation of the philosophy Joseph himself has named ‘Genuine Rhetoric,’ which he has elaborated on in many of his writings. Among Joseph’s clients are figures from the international jet set, such as the famous Paloma Picasso, with whom he collaborated at her atelier in Florence, designing clothing and leather accessories for her brand.
Joseph’s admirers include some of Europe’s most illustrious figures, such as Marquis Ludovico Antinori, renowned wine producer; Prince Colonna of Naples; Count Walfredo Della Gherardesca; industrial giants Demico and Collini; and the Ferragamo and Modestini families.
Several television talk shows feature Joseph’s stage designs, and in 1996, he appeared as a guest on the TV show Artseen, directed by the renowned Will Rabinovitch, in New York.
Joseph describes his personal artistic vision as ‘Psychedelic Surrealism’ or ‘Refined Naïve,’ which has already achieved significant success in the United States and garnered interest from major collectors in Europe.
Currently, his works are part of private collections owned by many art enthusiasts, such as the Enrico Coveri Foundation, where Joseph’s work is displayed alongside greats like Keith Haring and Man Ray.
Sergio Tossi, owner of a well-known gallery for emerging conceptual artists, described Joseph’s work as: “a magical and free mysterious flight in search of an inverted mind, showing itself in all its bare wonder to the world.”
In 2000, Joseph returned to Florence and, shortly after September 11, participated in the Art Expo in New York. Since then, the social aspect of Kaliher’s work has become more prominent, adding significant value to an artist unafraid to engage with the everyday.
This was followed by new exhibitions, including the solo show Fairy Tales of Life in 2003 (to mark the launch of the art series Prometheus and Titans, published by Carlo Cambi), which also featured artists such as Enrico Baj and Marino Marini.
In 2004, the Museum of Contemporary Art at Villa Demidoff in Florence displayed one of his works. The artist boasts an impressive exhibition résumé, including the Art Expo in Miami in January 2007 and a solo exhibition at Villa Gippini in Orta, to name just a few.
Throughout his career, Joseph Kaliher has also participated in international non-profit charity auctions, events that have attracted the interest of art experts, collectors, and even casual art enthusiasts.
EXHIBITIONS - EVENTS
• 2023: Milan (MI) - Fuori Milano - Molino 48 - “A Wardrobe Full of Art” - Artedia Concept Gallery - group exhibition.
• 2021: Vigevano (MI) - Presentation of the book “Il mio Decamerone” by Raffaele Scettri - personal exhibition by J. Kaliher.
• 2020: Genoa (GE) - ArteFiera - Alessia Formaggio Gallery.
• 2019: Paris (France) - “Apocalypse mi Amor” by Pascal Pacaly - La Demeure du Chaos.
• 2019: Milan (MI) - Affordable Art Fair - Alessia Formaggio Gallery.
• 2019: Verona (VR) - Nuova Smart Gallery - “I Am Not a Robot” - personal exhibition.
• 2019: Milan (MI) - “L’eredità di Leonardo Da Vinci” - Festival del Nuovo Rinascimento - group exhibition.
• 2018: Milan (MI) - Affordable Art Fair - Alessia Formaggio Gallery.
• 2018: Verona (VR) - Artefiera - Alessia Formaggio Gallery.
• 2018: Genoa (GE) - Artefiera - Alessia Formaggio Gallery.
• 2017: Canale Italia - Luxoo.tv - “Speciale Joseph Kaliher”.
• 2017: Padua (PD) - Arte Padova - Outartlet Gallery.
• 2017: Vigevano (MI) - Outartlet Gallery - “Sogni Lucidi” - personal exhibition.
• 2016: Las Vegas (USA) - Sky Art Gallery - “Arts Meets Fashion”, personal exhibition.
• 2016: Francavilla al Mare (CH) - Museo Michetti - “Bozzetti d’Arte per un Carro Allegorico”, group exhibition.
• 2016: Turin (TO) - Korovamilk Concept Gallery - personal exhibition by Joseph Kaliher.
• 2016: Vigevano (MI) - Outartlet Gallery - “Orizzonti Magici”, personal exhibition.
• 2015: Mendrisio (CH) - Galleria all’Angolo - “6 x 6”, group exhibition.
• 2015: Beverly Hills (USA) - “EC Gallery”, group exhibition.
• 2015: Szczjrk (Poland) - Beskidzka Galeria Sztuki - “Magical Dreams III”, group exhibition.
• 2015: Rome (RM) - Museo “Il Trittico” - “Premio Campo de’ Fiori”, fifth edition.
• 2014: Lindholm Slot (Denmark) - Lindholm Castle - “The Magic 7”, group exhibition and publication.
• 2013: Casteggio (PV) - Luca Sforzini Arte - “Joseph Kaliher Maestro del Nuovo Simbolismo Surrealista”.
• 2013: Birkerød (Denmark) - Fantasmus Gallery - “Erotic Christmas”, group exhibition.
• 2013: Birkerød (Denmark) - Fantasmus Gallery - “Imaginaire VI”, group exhibition and publication.
• 2013: Pavia (PV) - Liguriundici Arte - “Il mondo interiore di JWK”, personal exhibition.
• 2012: Various locations in Sardinia and Italy - Galleria Spagnoli exhibitions.
• 2011: Sartirana Lomellina (PV) - Castello di Sartirana - “Identità artistiche, Identità nazionale”, group exhibition.
• 2011: Prague - Galerie Brehovà - “Immagina/Imagine - Una Nuova Arte”, group exhibition.
• 2011: Castello di Belgioioso (PV) - “Il Segno, il Sogno, la Pace”, personal exhibition.
• 2009: Multiple exhibitions including ArteFiera Genoa, Biblioteca Marciana Venice, and others.
• 2008: Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) - Museo delle Regole - “Dialettica della Verticalità”, personal exhibition.
• 2007: Miami (USA) - Art Expo - group exhibition.
• 2006: Florence - Cenacolo del Ghirlandaio - “L’arte - per la ricerca”, exhibition and auction.
• 2000: Zoagli (GE) - Castello Canevaro - personal exhibition.
• 1999: Southampton (UK) - D. L. Arte Gallery - personal exhibition.
• 1998: Florence - Concorso Estemporaneo di Pittura “Acquarte” (3rd prize).
TELEVISION APPEARENCES
2013 - (SKY 923/918 - Channel 78 - La10 and other TV stations) - “Artetivùlab” presents J. Kaliher’s paintings with various hosts throughout the year
2012/2011 - SKY 923 - SKY 918 - Channel 78 - La10 - “Artetivùlab” presentation of J. Kaliher’s paintings, hosted by Vittorio de Benedetti
2009 - Channel 7 - Gold - presentation of J. Kaliher’s paintings, hosted by Mario Pericelli
2008 - Canale Italia - “Special J. Kaliher - Artetivù” hosted by Vittorio de Benedetti
2008 - Canale Italia - “Artetivù” - interview and presentation of the solo exhibition at the “Museo della Regole” in Cortina d’Ampezzo
2008 - Canale Italia - “Spring Special - Artetivù” hosted by Willy Montini
2007 - Telelombardia - Sky 885 - “Artetivù” hosted by Mario Perricelli (January 26, 2007)
2006 - Canale Italia - “Artetivù” - special hosted by Willy Montini (June 16, 2006)
2006 - Odeon TV - Telereporter - inauguration of the solo exhibition at Villa Gippini (Orta, September 23, 2006)
2006 - Canale Italia - “Artetivù” - interview and special hosted by Willy Montini (October 14, 2006)
2005 - All Music (formerly Rete A) - “Modeland” (talk show, 8 episodes)
2004 - La7 - “Markette” talk show hosted by Piero Chiambretti
2003 - Rai 3 - Coverage of the solo exhibition in Florence, news broadcast on December 12, 2003
2003 - Canale 5 - TV promotion for Yomo with Luisa Corna, Ringo DJ, Mastrotta, and Gabriella Golia
2002 - Canale 5 - “Scherzi a Parte” hosted by Gene Gnocchi and Michelle Hunziker
1995 - WBC (satellite channel - USA) - “Artseen” talk show hosted by Will Rabinovitch
1994 - Italia 7 - “Vivere e convivere” talk show - 2 episodes
1993 - Canale 10 (regional TV channel) - “Artisti a Firenze” (10 episodes)
PUBLISHING CONTRIBUTIONS
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