Artist Statement:
My fascination with mythology has always centered on re-examining the deeper meanings behind classic tales. As a father of a ten-year-old daughter, I am continually searching for narratives that portray women not as passive victims, but as active and empowered figures. The myth of the Abduction of Europa is traditionally interpreted as the story of a victim unwillingly taken by a god in the form of a bull. In my sculpture, My fascination with mythology has always centered on re-examining the deeper meanings behind classic tales. As a father of a ten-year-old daughter, I am continually searching for narratives that portray women not as passive victims, but as active and empowered figures. The myth of the Abduction of Europa is traditionally interpreted as the story of a victim unwillingly taken by a god in the form of a bull. In my sculpture, Europa, I challenge this narrative. My work recasts her as a decisive heroine, a willing participant in her own destiny. In this piece, her expression and gesture subtly reveal this inner resolve. When she flees on the bull, it is not an act of abduction but of free will—an opportunity to pursue her future with strength and determination. She embodies the courage of a bold leader, moving forward with grace and without hesitation.
About Joshua Koffman
Joshua Koffman is a Philadelphia-based sculptor renowned for his expressive, large-scale bronze figurative works. A Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, he has received numerous honors, including the Alex J. Ettl Grant and First Place in the Grand Central Academy’s Sculpture Competition. Recently, his sculpture Hevel was an ARC Salon finalist.
Koffman earned his BFA from UC Santa Cruz before studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where he later taught for eleven years. His work is featured in prestigious public and private collections and is represented by Philadelphia’s F.A.N. Gallery. Currently, Koffman is creating four monumental bronze Huskies for Bloomsburg Commonwealth University, designed to embody the institution’s core values.