Maya Cohen Levy facts for kids
Maya Cohen Levy (born 1955) is a famous Israeli artist. She creates amazing paintings and sculptures. She is also known as Maya Cohen-Levy.
Contents
Maya Cohen Levy's Life and Art
Early Life and Education
Maya Cohen Levy was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. She started her studies at Tel Aviv University in 1973. There, she learned about philosophy. Later, from 1975 to 1979, she went to the High School for Art in Tel Aviv. She continued to learn more about art.
In 1983, Maya traveled to Japan. She wanted to learn special art forms there. She studied calligraphy, which is beautiful handwriting. She also learned sumi-e painting, which is a type of ink wash painting.
Overcoming Challenges as an Artist
In the 1980s, Maya faced some challenges. Some people thought it was hard to be a mother and a successful artist at the same time. Maya was told that she might not be able to be an artist after having a child. This made her feel sad, but it also made her stronger.
She decided that she could be both a mother and an artist. This was a new idea for many women artists back then. Most women artists either chose not to have children or had others care for their kids. Maya Cohen Levy showed that it was possible to do both.
Artistic Journey and Influences
In 1994 and 1995, Maya went to Beijing, China. There, she studied calligraphy again. This helped her art grow even more.
In 2000, she had a big art show. It was called Ponds 1995-2000. This show was at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Her paintings in this exhibition were all about ponds. She showed them in many different ways.
In 2002, Maya was one of ten Israeli artists chosen for a special project. It was called Ma'aseh Hoshev, which means "Informed Creations." This project aimed to connect old Jewish knowledge with modern art. Maya's art for this project talked about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. She used words from the Bible in her artwork.
Exploring Themes in Her Art
In 2006, one of her paintings, Roots, was sold at Sotheby's. This painting shows her unique style. Her art often has many layers of paint. She uses shapes from nature, like honeycombs and palm trees. She also gets ideas from Islamic art and a style called Abstract Expressionism.
Maya discovered how seeds are arranged in sunflowers. This led her to explore the "golden spiral" in nature. This idea, along with Islamic art, balanced her earlier influences. Sometimes, she paints trees upside down. This makes their branches look like roots.
Teaching and Collaborations
Maya Cohen Levy creates many types of art. This includes paintings, sculptures, and art installations. She also makes books with writers and poets. She has taught art for 25 years. She taught at famous schools like Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem. She also taught at the Kalisher Art School in Tel Aviv.
Today, Maya Cohen Levy lives in Tel Aviv.
Where to See Her Art (Exhibitions)
You can see Maya Cohen Levy's art in many places. Some of her major exhibitions include:
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art
- Israel Art Museum in Jerusalem
Awards and Recognition
Maya Cohen Levy has won several important awards for her art. These awards show how much her work is valued:
- Ministry of Culture and Education in Israel
- Dan Sandel Sculpture Award in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art
- The Painting Award of the Israel Art Museum in Jerusalem
Art in Collections
Her artworks are part of important art collections around the world:
- Tel Aviv Museum
- The Jewish Museum, New York
