Israel Feldmann

ISRAEL FELDMANN - Painter, sculptor of Spirit

Read an interview with Israel Feldmann in May 2018.

Born in France in 1959, Israel Feldmann studied painting and sculpture at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He then moved to Israel, where he has developed a unique abstract and contemporary artistic language with a deep knowledge of art history and technical form. He uses raw pigment, natural materials to create textured frames that seem to have a life of their own. Letting the paint guide him through the process, Feldmann cleverly disguises his hand in the work as if the paintings happened by chance. He shares his personal questioning on our current world, touches our interiority, sparks a reaction with a true respect for our freedom. Every picture is a message which offers the possibility of an inner experience. Intensely personal and yet accessible, Feldmann’s work explores the sense of creation and existence. His exhibitions in Israel, in the US, and in Italy at the Florence Biennale dell’Arte Contemporanea awarded him great recognition.

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Artist biography

Between 1978 and 1983, Israel Feldmann studied Painting and Sculpture at the French Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He was accepted in the Atelier of internationally renowned french sculptor Etienne Martin and benefited from his personal supervision for four years. He also studied painting and engraving at the Beaux-Arts.

In 1983, Feldmann moved to Jerusalem, Israel. He became close friend with the famous writer Beni Shveli, winner of the Jerusalem Literature prize. Alongside painters Asher Dahan, Michael Segan Cohen, David Rakia, and many other artists, they questioned the meaning of jewish art and poetry through their discussions and common learning at the YAKAR Cultural Center.

In 1985, Israel Feldmann presented his work at the Artists’ House of Jerusalem. Arts critics recognized his value: Dr Gidon Ophrat (Jerusalem Voice in 1985), and Dr Pesia Madar in 1989. In the 90’s, he exhibited in France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and his hometown of Jerusalem.

In 2000, he moved his studio from Jerusalem to Galilee, at Or Haganuz next to Zafed, far away from city cultural centers. He went on his artistic research through his relationship with nature.

In 2016-2017, HECHAL SHLOMO MUSEUM, Jerusalem, honored him with a three months prestigious solo exhibition.

In 2018 he decided to exhibit his work in the US: New York Chelsea, Miami Art Week, and Artexpo New York in 2019. His dense exhibitions program in 2020 was canceled with the pandemic.

In Italy, in 2019, he exhibited at Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi during Venice Biennale. He was also invited by the selection comittee of the Florence Biennale where his paintings were applaused.

In 2022, he was granted a large one month solo exhibition at the prestigious Jerusalem Theater.

Artist's personal statement

I paint to express, to convey, to offer him who looks at my paintings what I carry inside: a creative force, a bringing to fruition that comes from the depths of my humanity, from my spiritual core. For each artwork it is a mysterious experience, beyond words, beyond thought.

I do not create in an intellectual, conceptual manner. I create in order to bring a creation into the world, one that has its own identity, like a living force that brings it to life in an autonomous way, once it leaves my brushes. That life comes out of me, but exists by itself. It reveals itself to the spectator like an existential encounter. We speak from heart to heart, from humanity to humanity, from profundity to profundity. It is less a question of pondering than a raw impact from one humanity to the other.

And everyone recognizes that signature that touches, reaching the innermost of existence. I am religious but everyone can enter this exploration and explanation of our intimate and spiritual core. 

Like all that is living, my paintings have an inner harmony, a density that are moving, dynamic. The very elaborated matter is the fruit of years of experiments and continuous risk-taking. This bringing to fruition can never be controlled like a technical process, even with much expertise. I am the guardian of this life that seeks to get out.

Giving material form to a spiritual life pertains to a work process that is very demanding, technical and contemplative at once: that life is very fragile and could disappear with the slightest error. I see it develop in my studio, sometimes I worry for it and do not stop unless I feel that it is strong enough to leave me. I look at it from afar, from close up: its structure supports those two views. I feel when the painting is finished, it speaks to me. I can put down my brushes.

Its force does not diminish with time, on the contrary. The natural material I use, oil, sand, high quality pure pigments, are alive. They begin their mutual life, their dialogue, once in contact with the medium, whether it be canvas or plywood. Their intentional interaction is part of my creation process but cannot be totally predictable. They are evidence of the existence of an internal, autonomous life in each of my canvas, whose birth I have contributed to, but which do not belong to me.

I am very close to my paintings. I love that they keep me company, to enjoy their presence, and with wonder, to discover things within them I did not know I had put there. But I let them go, moving on under a sight other than my own, as my aim is to contribute to the inner personal growth of those looking at them, sharing their life.

Israel Feldmann