Cathy Leff
Cathy Leff is the director of the Bakehouse Art Complex and Director Emerita of The Wolfsonian-FIU. She is a seasoned cultural, professional and creative entrepreneur who specializes in conceiving, developing and executing cultural strategies and initiatives across platforms, with a particular interest in the intersection of culture and community-building. She has been involved with Bakehouse since March 2018, working with its Board and small team to forge a more relevant, impactful and sustainable path forward for the organization. Prior to Bakehouse, Leff was director of The Wolfsonian-FIU for 18 years, an internationally renowned museum and research center, negotiating its gifting to Florida International University in 1997, and helping the University secure Florida state approval and funding. From 1990 to 2014, Leff served as Executive Editor and Publisher of the award-winning Journal of Decorative and Propaganda Arts, noted for its interest in scholarship of the period of 1875-1945. During her tenure, she published special theme editions on Florida, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. From 1975-87, she was Assistant Director of the City of Miami’s Community Development Department, where she was responsible for neighborhood economic and community development projects, oversaw its Art in Public Places Committee, and the city’s cultural programs.
