Igal Guinerman

Although I have been painting on and off my entire life, the beginning of my art career I can trace back to 2007. It was at this point that I embarked upon an endless spiritual journey, one that is continuously taking me to new places and heights. It was in 2007 that I began to study Jewish wisdom and philosophy in Israel, to embrace the Torah, as I continue these studies to this day.

Artistically speaking, my work is a balancing act of colors, shapes, lines, textures, abstraction, figurativeness, and even text. My pieces are intuitive, raw, and emotional, with strong colors and deep contrasts.

My work, as is my life, is an exploration of Jewish Religious themes and figures. I incorporate in my work aesthetics that have roots in diverse movements: from informalism to pop art; from abstract to expressionism. I draw from many sources, but I would describe myself as an autodidact. My inspiration comes from my heart; and my heart absorbs the day-to-day life and practice as a Torah observant Jew living in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

I am fascinated with Jewish aesthetics. I borrow powerful visual imagery from religious figures, rituals, traditions, and sacred objects, and blend them with abstract forms. My pieces are a combination of spiritual and physical narratives. The elements are sharply defined —and other times very subtly defined— with lines or shapes, and sometimes even painted over to be revealed again.

I like to explore the relationship between the spiritual realm and the everyday life. How spirituality becomes tangible in the world through ritual observance and personal practice. My work is a dialogue between the spiritual and the material world.