Photo: Courtesy of Michelle Levy
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I am a British-Israeli graphic artist turned fine artist, living in the Israeli city of Raanana. Finishing art school with a first class honours degree in Visual Communication design, I opened a design agency. Since leaving art school, I hadn’t had time to draw. As a wife, mother of four, informal art teacher and busy graphic designer running my own agency, I barely had time to breathe let alone create art.
What inspired you to become an artist?
Surprised to find that I rather liked the breathing space brought on by repeated Covid lockdowns, I spent many happy hours in the garden, pencil in hand planning my creations. Surrounded by trees and plants and with the sounds of my son practising his Bar Mitzvah portion in the background, I began to pour out my passion and joy onto paper.
What is your specialty?
My speciality is bringing our 5000 year old history to modern day art, full of colour, energy and life, whilst using the latest technologies to do so.
How and where do you work?
I work in my garden, breathing in the air and listening to the sounds of nature and the music of Yishai Ribo
What is the most indispensable item in your work?
My black sharpie.
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
I first took my inspiration whilst my son was practising for his Bar Mitzvah portion. I had always perceived the Bible as a story of the past. But hearing my son read it so beautifully, made me realise that it’s also the story of the present and of the future. It was at this point I decided that I wanted to bridge the gap between our deeply rooted history and the modern world bringing the Bible to life, connecting the past to the present, and using bold and beautiful colours and patterns to do so.
Do you do bespoke work?
I still have so many pieces in my head that I want to put on paper first!! But I’m definitely open to the idea.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am working on several Israel/Jewish themed pieces and will continue to work on ideas connected to my Jewish identity.
What is or are your favourite items in your current collection?
The Hamsa. I absolutely love this piece – the theme, the patterns and bright bold colours!
How do you know when a piece is finished?
Because I fall in love all over again!
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
A 2 meter wide vibrant and colourful piece capturing the awe and excitement of one of the most important events in Jewish history – the giving of the ten commandments on Mount Sinai. ‘Colours of Sinai’ printed on glass.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I have really loved working on them all! I am loving bringing colour to the things that mean so much to me!
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
I get a buzz seeing my pieces hanging on the walls of peoples homes, injecting energy and life to any living space. My wish for the future is to see my work spreading joy around the world, and not just in Israel.
Where can we find your work?
website: michellelevy.co.il
email: [email protected]
facebook – michelle.levy.7549
instagram – mich.elle_levy
First Row: Hamsa & Kotel
Second Row: Tribes & Colours of Sinai
Photos: Courtesy of Michelle Levy
