Cynthia von Buhler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cynthia von Buhler
Born	Cynthia Carrozza 1964 (age 60–61)
Nationality	American, Italian
Education	The Art Institute of Boston, United States of America; Richmond College, London, England, The New School, United States of America
Known for	Painter, sculptor, illustrator, author, playwright, musician, performer, producer
Movement	Surrealist, Magic Realism, Fluxus

Cynthia von Buhler (born Cynthia Carrozza, 1964) is a talented American artist, author, playwright, performer, and producer. She is known for her unique art, immersive theater shows, and children's books.

Cynthia von Buhler's Early Life and Art

Cynthia von Buhler grew up in the Berkshires area of Massachusetts. She was one of six children in a very artistic family. She often says that her family learned to create art in many ways. They worked with different materials, not just drawing on flat paper.

From a young age, Cynthia was very creative. She made huge papier-mâché decorations for her hometown Halloween parades. She even won her first art award while still in elementary school. Growing up near famous theaters, she also loved acting and singing in plays.

Cynthia studied art and children's books at The Art Institute of Boston. Later, she continued her studies in London, England.

A Royal Family Story

Cynthia von Buhler's family has an interesting story. They say they might be related to the royal Italian Sforza family. This family line was given the special title of "Count" by the Pope.

Cynthia explained in 2001 why she sometimes uses a title. Her grandmother's last name was Sforza. The family rumor is that they are connected to Francesco Sforza from Milan. He was known for hiring Leonardo da Vinci and for a sweet Italian candy called Torrone.

A friend once started calling Cynthia's Victorian house "Castle von Buhler." The name stuck, and the media began calling her "Countess Cynthia von Buhler."

Creating Immersive Theater Experiences

Cynthia von Buhler is famous for her immersive theater shows. These shows make the audience feel like they are part of the story.

Her show Speakeasy Dollhouse tells a real story from New York City during the Prohibition era. This was a time when alcohol was illegal. The story is about bootlegging, mafia, and a murder.

Uncovering a Family Mystery

Cynthia had a shocking family mystery she wanted to solve. Her grandparents, Frank and Mary Spano, owned two secret bars (speakeasies) in the Bronx during Prohibition. One looked like a bakery, and the other was a hidden nightclub.

After Prohibition ended, her grandfather was killed. Cynthia's grandmother was pregnant with her mother at the time. When she heard the news, she went into labor. Her grandfather's body was in one room, and her mother was born in the next.

Cynthia explains that no one in her family knew why her grandfather was shot. There were no details about the killer or a trial. Her grandmother took these secrets with her. So, Cynthia decided to investigate this important historical story herself.

Bringing the Story to Life

To explore the murder, Cynthia first built a detailed speakeasy dollhouse. It had tiny handmade dolls and sets like a secret nightclub, a bakery, and even a morgue. This allowed her to examine the crime scene details from every angle.

Then, she created a live immersive show based on her research. Speakeasy Dollhouse takes place in a real historic Lower East Side speakeasy. The place is decorated to look just like her dollhouse sets. The actors mix with the audience, making everyone feel like part of the play. Cynthia's tagline for the show is: "The speakeasy is my dollhouse and you are my dolls."

The first performances and a graphic novel called The Bloody Beginning were funded by fans through Kickstarter. Speakeasy Dollhouse became the name for all of Cynthia's immersive theater shows. The original show was later renamed The Bloody Beginning.

Popular Immersive Shows

Cynthia von Buhler has created many immersive theater productions, including:

• The Illuminati Ball: A mysterious show held in unique locations.
• Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic: A show inspired by old-time Broadway performances.
• The Brothers Booth: A play about famous actors from the past.

Writing Graphic Novels

Cynthia von Buhler has also illustrated graphic novels, which are like comic books but longer.

The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini is one of her works. It follows a private investigator named Minky Woodcock. She tries to find out what happened in the last days of the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini. Cynthia researched Houdini's death to make her story based on real clues.

She also illustrated a two-book graphic novel for the musical duo Evelyn Evelyn. This duo is made up of Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley. The story is about conjoined twin sisters. The famous author Neil Gaiman wrote a special afterword for the book.

Creating Children's Books

Cynthia von Buhler has illustrated and written many popular children's books.

In 2001, Steven Spielberg asked her to illustrate a story for a book called Once Upon A Fairy Tale. This book helped seriously ill children. In 2002, her illustrations for They Called Her Molly Pitcher were praised by The New York Times. The New York Public Library chose it as one of the best books for reading.

Her "dramatic oil-on-gesso artwork" for Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth is a Planet (2004) was called "handsome and effective." Publishers Weekly said her paintings for this book had "a gravitational pull of their own."

Author and Illustrator

In 2006, Cynthia wrote and illustrated The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside. This book was based on a true story. It featured painted clay characters in detailed miniature sets. The book was called a "beautiful story" with "extremely detailed sets." Kirkus Reviews said the illustrations were "unique" and "eye-popping."

In 2009, she wrote and illustrated But Who Will Bell The Cats?. This book used handmade sets, special lighting, and paper doll paintings. Critics said young readers would love looking at the details again and again. The Nassau County Museum of Art even showed the book's miniature sets in an exhibit.

Cynthia has also illustrated covers for many young adult books. These include Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen and two Newbery Medal winners: The Bronze Bow and The Perilous Guard.

Awards for Children's Books

Cynthia von Buhler's children's books have won several awards and honors:

• But Who Will Bell the Cats? was nominated for a Cybil Award in 2009-10.
• The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside was a Teacher's Pick for Best of 2006.
• They Called Her Molly Pitcher was chosen by The New York Public Library in 2002.

Fine Art and Exhibitions

In 2001, Cynthia von Buhler moved to New York City's Meatpacking District. She started using new and unusual materials in her art. These included video, living animals, found objects, and electronic sounds. Her art often became moving installations.

Cynthia's art often comments on ideas like morality, vanity, and politics. Her work has appeared on the covers of many art magazines. A photo of her was even used on billboards.

She created an art piece called "Shake Hands With Uncle Sam" to comment on politicians. For 25 cents, you could shake Uncle Sam's hand. A dial would spin and play audio clips of politicians saying things like "Weapon of mass destruction" or "No New Taxes."

In 2005, a video she made for an exhibit was called one of the best by a New York Times art critic. She even worked in a gallery window for a few months, letting people watch her create art. Her fine art has also appeared on TV shows like Law & Order SVU.

Art & Antiques magazine named Cynthia von Buhler as "one of the top contemporary surrealists" in 2006. Her art has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide. It is also part of many important collections.

Solo Art Shows

Cynthia von Buhler has had many solo art exhibitions:

• "The Countess and Her Cats" at The Mark Twain House and Museum (2012-2013).
• But Who Will Bell The Cats? at The Nassau County Museum of Art (2009-2010).
• Show and Tell at The Staten Island Museum (2007).
• Cynth-O-Matic shows in Milan, Italy, and New York City (2005-2006).

The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery

From 2003 to 2008, Cynthia owned and directed The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery in New York City. This space was used for art shows, filming, and events.

In 2007, Cynthia curated an exhibit called Andy Warhol: In His Wake. It featured artists connected to the famous artist Andy Warhol. For this show, Cynthia created "The Great Warhola," a fortune-telling machine. She believes Warhol predicted that everyone would get "15 minutes of fame" with things like reality television and YouTube.

The gallery space itself has been featured in movies and TV shows. These include Sex and the City and Law & Order SVU. Today, Cynthia is the president of CvB Spaces, which helps lease locations for filming and photography.

Illustration Work

In the mid-1990s, Cynthia and Adam Buhler bought a large purple Victorian house in Boston. Cynthia painted the walls with bright colors and climbing vine patterns. She said this was a turning point for her art. She decided to only make art she would want to display in her own home.

Cynthia's unique three-dimensional paintings have been shown in many books, magazines, and newspapers. These include Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. Her work has appeared in over a thousand publications.

In 1995, she was interviewed about her art on the Lifetime Network. A portrait she made of Mary Magdalen was even used in the show's opening. In 1998, she illustrated a children's book called Little Girl in Red Dress With Cat and Dog. This book received great reviews.

She also illustrated a tarot deck based on the writings of William Shakespeare in 2003. In 2004, her portraits of Madonna and Jimi Hendrix were featured in Rolling Stone magazine. The Jimi Hendrix painting was even built with a real guitar as his spine and set on fire!

Awards for Illustrations

Cynthia von Buhler has received many awards for her illustration work:

• Gold Medals from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (1996) and The Visual Club, New York (1995).
• Her work has been selected multiple times for prestigious annuals like American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators annual shows.

Music Career

Cynthia von Buhler also became involved in the music industry. She started a performance art band called Women of Sodom. This band won an award from the Boston Phoenix in 1997. They played in clubs across the country and opened for famous bands.

Their album, Boots, was released in 1997. Cynthia sang and wrote the lyrics. She and her husband also started a record label called Castle von Buhler. The label released art and music CD collections to benefit AIDS charities. Cynthia contributed musically and artistically to these CDs.

Boston Magazine named Cynthia one of the "40 Bostonians We Love" in 2002. She often appeared on the covers of Boston art and music magazines. She even appeared twice on MTV.

Cynthia also managed her husband's band, Splashdown, and helped them sign with Capitol Records. In 2001, her band Countess released a rock opera album about the music industry. Countess was nominated for a Boston Music Award.

Throwing Unique Parties

Cynthia von Buhler is also known for throwing amazing, circus-themed parties. These parties started in Boston and have continued in Connecticut and New York City.

In 2010, she held a big party to celebrate finishing the artwork for her graphic novel Evelyn Evelyn. The party also celebrated Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman's engagement, and Cynthia's birthday. The party had a "Freaks" theme. Cynthia dressed as a mermaid in a bathtub filled with water to greet her guests. She also created an art display about the BP Oil Spill with live models.

Many famous writers attended the party, including Lemony Snicket and Neil Gaiman. Scenes from the party were even used in Salman Rushdie's book trailer for Luka and the Fire of Life.