IRIS WEXLER

 

Born and raised in Israel, I began my art education in high school in an art-focused program, where I learned the fundamentals of drawing. Since then, I have been painting and teaching. I proudly represent Israel with my artwork in France, Germany, the USA, and Italy. My motto is “there is nothing new under the sun,” meaning every emotion or thought has its origins in the Bible, the oldest book. From there, my imagination brings these ancient stories into illustrated form. The title, chapter, and verse of each painting are written in ancient Hebrew script.
 

My working process: Interview, sketch, placement on canvas, and work without a model — all the characters are a product of my imagination. For four years, the late Meir Moses insisted I paint the human skeleton and properly position it in a model. Our class frequently ventured outdoors to sketch twigs, tree bark, and structures in the landscape. The art program included prominent artists and teachers who contributed greatly to shaping my artistic identity, such as Meir Moses, Eli Yitzhakeli, Ben Zion Lapid, Knispel, Lea Gumpel, and others.
 

In 2006, I completed a course titled “Art as an Educational Tool” at the Western Galilee College as part of a teacher development program. Through this course, I understood the power of expression through art, and how the creative process allows hidden truths to surface. Today, I know that my cultural roots, which shaped me as an artist, stem from the Jews of Spain who arrived in Safed (a city in northern Israel) in 1872 and later established the settlement of “Yesod HaMa'ala.” These were people of spirit and hard labor who faced the challenges of nature and the Ottoman regime. They were visionaries and believers.

My great-grandfather, Nissim Gavizon, was a scribe of sacred Hebrew texts, writing Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot. My parents, the first generation of free thinkers, were always amazed by my drawings, and I inherited their values of truth and free expression, as well as a love for tradition and Torah from my grandmother, Naomi Alfasi, who always embraced me with love.
 

Sources of Inspiration: It wasn’t that I woke up one day and decided to paint biblical scenes. The stories of the Bible flowed to me naturally, especially during the painting of a circle of dancers, which was inspired by the 2005 evacuation of Gush Katif. While watching the evacuation on TV, I saw a powerful and painful scene of men dancing in a circle to strengthen themselves during the forced removal. During my military service in 1975, as part of the Nahal Brigade, we were the second outpost in Gush Katif. After us, settlers came, built homes, planted trees, and raised families with government support. Thirty years later, the government decided to evacuate the settlement in exchange for peace.
 

The painting of the circle of dancers became "The Disengagement Dance," with their connected arms symbolizing unity. From that moment, I was inspired to paint biblical stories. The Jewish people need to connect with their roots to survive in the land of Canaan, which was given to them over 3,000 years ago.

Every topic that moved or shook me in life found its way into my paintings, becoming part of a recurring biblical narrative that provided me with inspiration. I found myself speaking through these biblical stories, reflecting the reality of today as I see it. Once the connection between reality and the biblical story is made, I find the strength to refine and express both.
 

Education:

• 1972: High School of Art, Hanna Senesh, Haifa

• 1975: Military Service

• 1977: Avni Institute of Art and Design

• 1978: Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem

• 1992-2001: Investment and Securities Marketing at Batucha/Bloch Rothstein

• 2006: Western Galilee College - "Art as an Educational Tool"
   

Teaching Experience: I privately mentor students in figurative drawing, form, and color studies in my studio, “Living in a Picture,” located in Kiryat Tivon. The studio is recognized by the Ministry of Education in Israel and offers professional development courses for teachers during their sabbaticals. I officially lead workshops for the Ministry of Education and serve as a guide on the topic of “Art as an Educational Tool,” focusing on enhancing the value of art in education. I also lecture on “Expression in Art through the Bible.”

I am a member of the Israel Artists Association, Tel Aviv.

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