Malcah Zeldis facts for kids

Malcah Zeldis (born Mildred Brightman; September 22, 1931) is an American folk painter. She is famous for her unique paintings. Her art often combines stories from the Bible, history, and her own life.

Malcah Zeldis: Her Life and Art Journey

Early Life and Inspiration

Malcah Zeldis was born in the Bronx, New York. She grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. Her family was not wealthy. Her father faced challenges because of his religion.

Even so, Zeldis remembers her time in Detroit fondly. She loved the nature there. She also enjoyed visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts on weekends. She was amazed by the bright colors and small figures in Flemish paintings. These paintings later inspired her own colorful artworks.

Moving to Israel

When she was 18, Zeldis moved to Israel in 1949. She wanted to learn more about her Jewish heritage. She became a Zionist and worked on a kibbutz, which is a community farm.

There, she met her future husband, Hiram Zeldis. They returned to the U.S. to get married. Then, they went back to the kibbutz. Zeldis started painting, but she wasn't sure if her art was good.

A famous Israeli artist named Aaron Giladi visited the kibbutz. He saw Zeldis's paintings and really liked them. He even asked for two of her artworks! Zeldis was very excited by his praise. Giladi also suggested she try painting on bigger canvases. This idea made her a bit nervous.

After trying larger canvases, she stopped painting for a while. This break lasted longer when she had children. She also moved permanently to Brooklyn, New York.

Painting Again in Brooklyn

Zeldis started painting again 23 years later. Her children were older, and her marriage had ended. In 1970, she enrolled in Brooklyn College. She studied Early Childhood Studies.

The college had a special rule for "life experience." This meant Zeldis could show her paintings. She was still unsure about her art. But her paintings were well-liked by her teachers. One teacher even showed her work to an art critic. The critic suggested she show her art to galleries.

This was a big moment for Zeldis. She realized that not having formal art training was okay. It didn't stop her from being an artist. Around this time, she saw Haitian folk art in a gallery. She noticed it was very similar to her own style. This made her truly believe she was an artist.

Zeldis began painting seriously. She had many shows in art galleries. Her work also appeared in books. These included International Dictionary of Naive Art and Moments in Jewish Life: The Folk Art of Malcah Zeldis. Later, Zeldis worked with her daughter, Yona Zeldis. Together, they illustrated several children's books.

Malcah Zeldis's Painting Style

Zeldis's paintings have a unique look. They often appear flat, without perfect proportions. Her artworks are very colorful. They have many figures and a busy composition. Art critics say her colors are "explosive."

Her paintings show everyday things. But they also include surprising subjects. You might see presidents, famous women, or characters from the Bible. Her art tells stories. It tries to share a narrative with the viewer.

After recovering from an illness in 1986, Zeldis was not strong enough to lift her usual painting boards. So, she started painting on corrugated cardboard she found.

Children's Book Illustrations

Malcah Zeldis worked with her daughter, Yona Zeldis. They wrote and illustrated several children's books together. Yona shared that her mother really wanted to create a children's book with her. Yona was hesitant at first. But her mother kept encouraging her.

Zeldis and her daughter have created books like Eve and Her Sisters: Women of the Old Testament. They also made God Sent a Rainbow and Other Bible Stories. Other books include Anne Frank, Sisters in Strength: American Women Who Made a Difference, and Hammerin' Hank. Malcah Zeldis has also illustrated Honest Abe and Martin Luther King.

Selected Artworks

• Miss Liberty Celebration, 1987, oil on corrugated cardboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
• ... on a Couch, 1973, oil on masonite, American Folk Art Museum.
• Pieta, 1973, oil on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
• Wake, 1974, oil on panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
• Miss America Beauty Pageant, 1973, oil on masonite, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
• In Shul, 1986, Oil on Masonite, American Folk Art Museum.