Mirit Cohen facts for kids

Mirit Cohen (born 1945 in Russia, died May 3, 1990, in New York City) was a talented Israeli artist. She was known for her amazing sculptures and paintings. Mirit Cohen lived in New York City starting in 1975. She passed away in 1990.

About Mirit Cohen's Life

Mirit Cohen was born Manya Malka Cohen in Russia. Her family had strong beliefs. Her father was from Poland and believed in socialism. This means he thought everyone should be treated fairly and equally. Her family also believed in Zionism, which supported a Jewish homeland.

Her father, Haim Cohen, escaped Poland during World War II. He met Mirit's mother, Rebecca, in Russia. After the war, her family moved to Mandatory Palestine (which later became Israel). They were first sent to a camp in Cyprus. In 1948, when Israel was created, her family settled in Givat Shmuel.

Early Life and Education

In 1956, Mirit went to study at Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk. A kibbutz is a special community in Israel where people live and work together. In 1958, she won a drawing competition for young artists in Japan.

A few years later, in 1961, Mirit moved back with her parents. She started high school in Bnei Brak. During this time, she was active in a youth group in Petah Tikva. For her last years of high school, she went to Hadash High School in Tel Aviv.

After serving in the military, Mirit worked as a clerk. She then decided to study art. In 1968, she went to the Avni Institute of Art and Design. She studied with a famous artist named Yehezkel Streichman. In 1969, she joined another art school called "Midrasha" in Tel Aviv.

Mirit Cohen was buried in a Jewish cemetery in Queens, New York.

Mirit Cohen's Art Journey

Mirit Cohen started showing her art to the public in 1972. Her first exhibition was at the Dugit Gallery in Tel Aviv. In 1974, a special art expert called a curator named Yona Fisher bought some of her artworks. These pieces became part of the collection at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

In 1975, Mirit won a scholarship from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. A scholarship is money given to students to help them pay for their studies. This scholarship allowed her to study at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She studied there from 1975 to 1977. After finishing her studies, she decided to continue living in the United States.

Mirit Cohen's Art Training

Here are some of the places Mirit Cohen studied art:

• 1977: She graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, USA.
• 1971: She graduated from the Teachers College of Art in Ramat Hsharon, Israel.
• 1968: She studied at the Avni Art Institute with Yehezkel Streichman in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• 1967: She graduated from Kalisher Art College in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Art Shows and Exhibitions

Mirit Cohen's art was shown in many places around the world.

Solo Exhibitions

These were shows where only Mirit Cohen's art was displayed:

• 2000: Dan Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA.
• 1999: Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York City, USA.
• 1998: Ulmer Museum, Ulm, Germany.
• 1994: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1991: La MaMa Gallery, New York City, USA.
• 1982: "Woman with Cooper Snakes," a live performance sculpture in Soho, New York City, USA.
• 1980–81: "Cooper Bridges," "From Fire Escape to Fire Escape", large sculptures in Union Square and Cooper Square, New York City, USA.
• 1979: "The Broken Vessels Project", PS 1, New York City, USA.
• 1978: "Broken Vessels", Julie M. Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• 1977–78: "Metal, Mental, Melted, Metal", a sculpture installation at Clock Tower, New York City, USA.
• 1972–73: Dugit Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Group Exhibitions

These were shows where Mirit Cohen's art was displayed alongside other artists' work:

• 2011: "העצב החשוף" at Yair Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 2010: Artists' Choices: "A work in Progress," & "Drawings," at The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 2009: "The collection of Amie & Gabie Brown," Museum Ein Harod, Israel.
• 2009: "Lost Little Worlds - Works in Small Format" Gordon Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 2008: "Near and Seen" The Open Museum, Tephen, Israel.
• 2005: "Self Portrait" Alon Segev gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 2004: "The 70's", Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 2003: "Side Effect" Beit Berl Galleries, Israel.
• 2003: "Shemesh," Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 2001: "Arturo Schwartz Collection of Israeli Artists," The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 2000: "A Wall of My Own, Israeli Art," from the collection of Benno Kalev, Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• 1998: "Women Artists in Israeli Art", 1948–1998, Haifa Museum, Haifa, Israel.
• 1998: "Israeli Art of the 70's", Tel-Aviv Museum, Tel-Aviv; Israel.
• 1996: "Diary of a Human Hand," Bard College Art Center, New York State. Tel Aviv Museum, Tel-Aviv.
• 1995: Rita & Arturo Schwarz Collection of Israeli Art, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1994: "Anxiety," ("Charada") The Museum of Contemporary Israeli Art, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
• 1990: "Small Works", New York University, New York City, USA.
• 1989: "Bullet Under Acme", Great Jones Gallery, New York City, USA.
• 1987: Artist calendar of the Year, Histadrut Publication, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• 1984: Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1983: Gordon Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• 1980: "Lines & Drawings" Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel. Gimel Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1980: "New York Veil," Soho, New York City, USA.
• 1978: Tel-Aviv Museum, Julie M. Gallery, Tel-Aviv; Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1975: Richter Gallery, Julie M. Gallery & Artist Association, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
• 1975: Israel Museum and Debel Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1974: "Drawings & More" Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Bertha Urdang Gallery, New York City, US.
• 1973: Julie M. Gallery, Yodfat Gallery, Mabat Gallery, Dugit Gallery, Tel-Aviv. Debel Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1972: Dugit Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Awards and Special Recognition

Mirit Cohen received several awards and grants for her art:

• 1995: Ministry of Culture and Education, Museums and Visual Arts Department, Israel.
• 1978: Con Edison Artist In Residence Program, New York.
• 1975–77: American Israel Cultural Foundation. Art and Urban Resources, New York City.
• 1969–71: Sharet Grant. Pnina Mandleblit Fund, Israel.

Art in Public Collections

Mirit Cohen's artworks are kept in important public collections, meaning they are owned by museums or other institutions for everyone to see:

• 2000–07: Ulmer Museum, Ulm, Germany.
• 2000: The National Gallery of Art, Washington DC., USA.
• 2000: The Phoenix Collection of Israeli Art.
• 1997: The Walker Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
• 1974–95: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
• 1975: The Israeli embassy, Washington DC, USA.
• 1976–99: The Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv.

See also

• Israeli art