About Me
Amili Gelbman
My creative process begins as an artistic journey into fragmented, multi-layered memories that surface over time. The work usually evolves from an encounter with intuitive drawing, where line and mark lay the foundations for the composition. From there, I explore the material—often through layers of paint placed one upon the other—while examining the figurative and the narrative as vessels for expressing identity and emotion. In doing so, I integrate diverse techniques using local and traditional materials. Working in series allows me to focus on specific motifs, where the materials and the pieces themselves create constraints—bringing a sense of law, order, and continuity from one artwork to the next. The integration of new materials provides challenge, stimulation, and drive, allowing me to confront the sensations inherent in the medium itself, alongside biblical texts, writing, and prose that serve as further inspiration.
Several times a year, I choose to focus my practice on working periods in new and unfamiliar places—predominantly in Europe, the United States, Canada, and India. Immersing myself in an unfamiliar environment sparks a curiosity to explore materials and themes that overwhelm and inspire me. This dialogue with cultural and material influences, the collection of found objects and mediums, and the observation of landscapes and people, serve as vital sources of inspiration, continuously nourishing the processes in my studio.
For me, art is a space of absorption and introspection—a way of listening to the surrounding world in all its complexity and layers. It is an intuitive approach to experiencing reality through direct contact with material and presence, rooted in the understanding that contemporary art is a tool for exploring and expressing an ever-changing reality.
Selected Articles on My Work
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2024 (Nov) – "Allegory and Symbols: An Inner Journey", New Exhibition Art Magazine article , article2
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2023 – Vienna, by Nurit Tal-Tenne, The Moon Floats Over the Mountain, article
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2018 – Naples, by Rachel Ben-Menahem, Journey into Art in a Foreign City, article
Since 1996 – Art instruction studies and professional development:
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Visual Art and Painting (1996–98, Batya Elisha)
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Art Therapy in Painting (1997–99, Amram Sttuler)
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Photography (1999, Smadar Goren)
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Color and Material (1998, Nahum Hess)
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Drawing (2000, Harold Rubin)
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Art Therapy, “The Junkyard” (2000, Malka Haas)
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Didactics and Art History (1997–99, Atalia Helman)
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Ceramics (1999, Yafa Tsari)
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Art History Seminars (1998, Gideon Ofrat)
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Anthroposophy Studies (2000–2002): Anthroposophical Education, Color as Healing, Art-Oriented Psychotherapy
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Art Therapy and Philosophy(2024) (Jonathan Hirschfeld)
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Grants & Support
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2026 – Admitted to exhibit at the XVI Florence Biennale (2027), by the International Curatorial Board.
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2026 Featured Artist, America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) Showcase. [Link]
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2012 – International Symposium, Walchshof, Austria; group project & residency, supported by the Municipality of Graz (catalog included).
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• 2011 – Leaving the Light On (Project #20), Hovinkartano Art Center, Finland; exhibition, group project & residency, supported by the Embassy of Israel in Finland (catalog included).
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• 2010 (Jan) – White Smoke 2, Beit Jann, Israel; cultural integration project supported by the local village council.
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• 2009 – Identity Cards, Wakefield, UK; group project with local artists, supported by the Embassy of Israel in the UK (catalog included).
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• 2008 (Sept) – Six Directions exhibition, University of Maryland Art Gallery, USA; supported by the University of Maryland.
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• 2000 – The Waters artists’ project, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, USA; supported by the Embassy of Israel in Washington and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
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2026 January – Prisma Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal – “No Light Without Shadow” – Artist Residency, series of artworks
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2025 August- Lisbon, Portugal- “Diorama of Memory”- Artistic Journey, series of artworks
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2025 May- Lisbon “Soul Bird in the Drawers of Memory” –artistic journey series of artworks
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2024 – "Personal Portrait in a Gray Zone", Aba Khoushy House – The Gallery for New Art, Haifa; catalog and essay included; curator: Itzik Kochavi
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2020 – Art People & Me – Art Museum for Media Art 1
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2019 – "Art Journey", Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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2018 – "Art Journey", Sibiu, Romania
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2017 – Kotlarska Art Gallery, Wrocław, Poland
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2013 – Solo exhibition, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Nova Scotia, Canada
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2012 – Gallery 23, Center for Contemporary Art La Medicina dei Cristi, Tuscany, Italy; catalog included
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2010 – Hovinkartano Art Center, Finland; catalog included
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2008 – "The Core", solo exhibition at the Gallery for Contemporary Art, Wakefield Art House, England; catalog included
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2002 – Art Gallery, Kibbutz Yagur, Israel
Collections in Galleries and Institutions
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2015 – Works from the Leaf Series are part of the collection of Artfein – Kunstleben Gallery, Berlin, as part of an art project.
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2012 – Participation in the international symposium "1. Künstlersymposium Voitsberg 2012 – Erde – EARTH", held in Voitsberg, Austria, with the support of the City of Graz. The symposium was initiated by Christine Katz, Mag. Evelyne Oswald, and Karin Schalk, and included artists from various countries. Amili Gelbman’s works were featured in the printed catalog and became part of the municipal art collection of the City of Graz.
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2000 – Works exhibited as part of "The Waters", a project organized by the Israeli Representation in Milwaukee, USA.
Selected Group Exhibitions
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2024 – “Standard Mark – Law in Art”, Museum of the Courts, Tel Aviv (Curator: Orna Yair)
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2024 – “Colors of the Rainbow”, Gallery at Megiddo Cultural Center (Curator: Yasmin Rothman)
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2024 – “To Kill a Sacred Deer”, Gallery Q, Tel Aviv (Curator: Ilan Moyal)
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2023 – Tribute to Meir Ariel, Beit Gavriel (Curators: Itzik Kochavi and Ronit Halfon)
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2020–ongoing – New works on view at the Art People & Me – Media Art Museum 1
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2017 – Museum of Ecology, Lleida, Spain
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2011 – Sommer Gallery, Tel Aviv (Project Room, artist book)
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2008 – Group exhibition in Holon (Curator: Doron Polak)
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2006 – “The Shadow”, Stuvik Gallery, Ramat Gan (Curator: Tali Stuvik)
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2001 – Israel Association of Painters and Sculptors – Chagall Artists’ House, Haifa
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2000 – J.C.C. Milwaukee, USA
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1999 – Kinneret Academic College
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1999 – Beit Gavriel, Zemach
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1998 – Israel Association of Painters and Sculptors – Chagall Artists’ House, Haifa
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1998 – Yad Labanim, Kibbutz Afikim
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1997 – Uri and Rami Nehoshtan Museum, Ashdot Ya’akov
Selected Curated and Co-Curated Group Exhibitions (2007–2014)
Between 2007 and 2014, Amili Gelbman curated and accompanied group exhibitions addressing themes of identity, memory, and society, presented in Israel and abroad. Selected examples include:
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2012 – “The Inner Dialogue”, Project No. 23, La Medicina dei Cristi, Tuscany, Italy. Included a printed catalogue. (Curator and participating artist)
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2011 – “Portrait of Time”, Project No. 22, Municipal Gallery of Tondela, Portugal. Included a printed catalogue. (Curator and participating artist)
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2009 – “Forbidden?”, Efrat Gallery, Gordon, Tel Aviv. (Co-curator with Tzipora Efrat and participating artist)
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2008 – “White Smoke”, Tiltan College of Visual Design and Communication, Haifa, as part of the "Holiday of Holidays" festival. (Curator and participating artist)
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2008 – “Six Directions”, University of Maryland, USA – as part of an international academic conference on education, initiated by Prof. Zamira Mavrakh, Bar-Ilan University. (Curator and participating artist)
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2008 – “Shields of David”, Sokolov House of Journalists, Tel Aviv, in collaboration with researcher Ze’ev Barkan. (Curator and participating artist)
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2007 – “Identity Cards”, Efrat Gallery, Gordon, Tel Aviv. (Co-curator with Tzipora Efrat and participating artist)
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2007 – Jaffa Museum of Antiquities, Old Jaffa – exhibition initiated by curators Freddy Fabian and Esther Shlomo, in collaboration with the Old Jaffa Development Company and Tel Aviv–Jaffa Municipality. (Associate curator and participating artist)
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2007 – The Yellow Submarine, Jerusalem. (Curator and participating artist)
Video Documentation of Selected Projects & Exhibitions
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2026 –"No Light Without Shadow" | Lisbon
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Watch Video
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2025 –"Diorama of Memory" | Lisbon
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Watch Video
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Video Art Exhibition, Amili Gelbman
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2025 – “The Soul Bird”
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Watch Video
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2025 – “A Small Angel with Auburn Hair”
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Creative Dialogue: Amili Gelbman & Rachel Ben-Menahem
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2025 – “Threads of Memories”
Campolide Studio, Lisbon, Portugal
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2022 (May–June) | Artist Residency Project: "Landscapes into the Soul", Regency Artists Residency, Hungary. VIDEO
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2022 International Exhibition: ArtPeople&Me Art Museum , VIDEO
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2020-2021| International Exhibition: ArtPeople&Me Art Museum. VIDEO . VIDEO
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2021 | International Exhibition: ArtPeople&Me Art Museum. VIDEO
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2020| International Group Exhibition: ArtPeople&Me Art Museum. VIDEO
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2020 (August) | Featured Media: "Corona in My Studio" – Video documentation from the studio of Amili Gelbman. VIDEO
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2020 | Featured Media: "Painting on a Very Large or Giant Canvas" – Amili Gelbman sharing professional insights on large-scale painting. VIDEO
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2020 | International Group Exhibition: ArtPeople&Me Art Museum. VIDEO
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2019 – Project #29: “Mountains Beyond Metaphor”
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Group Exhibition, Curator: Amili Gelbman
Chelsea Gallery, London
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2018 – “Journey Diary Art Books”
Artistic project by Amili Gelbman
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2017 – “In My Own Eyes”
Group Exhibition, Curator: Amili Gelbman
Beit Gabriel
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2016 (Sept) – “The Horse”
Paintings by Irit Halevi Bar-Noy
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2016 (27 June – 4 July) – “Mountains Beyond Metaphor”
Group Exhibition, Curator: Amili Gelbman
Chelsea Gallery, London
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2015 (13 Nov) – “What Will the Day Bring?”
Exhibition, Curator: Amili Gelbman
Beit Gabriel
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2015 – Berlin Art Project: “Wearing White”
Artist: Amili Gelbman
Gleis 17, Berlin
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2014 (April–May) – “All It Exists Is Only the Dream”
Project #27 – Artist Group “And I Couldn’t Say”
Ross Creek, Canada
Curated by Amili Gelbman
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2012 (March) – Project #23
La Macina di San Cresci, Greve in Chianti, Italy
Curator & Artist: Amili Gelbman
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2011 (Nov) – Project #22
Town Hall Gallery, Tondela, Portugal
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2011 (Aug) – Project #20: “Diary Pieces”
The Art House, Wakefield, UK
Curated by Amili Gelbman
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Active YouTube Channel: Watch Active Channel
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Video Archive (2010 to 2013): Watch Video Archive