Avraham Ofek
Encyclopedia
Avraham Ofek was an Israeli sculptor, muralist, painter
and printmaker. Born in Bourgaz, Bulgaria
, he immigrated to Israel in 1949, where he lived in Ein Hamifratz
, a kibbutz
near Haifa
. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence
, as well as in Spain
and in London
, and later taught art
in Jerusalem before being appointed head of the Art Department at the University of Haifa
. He was one of the founders of the Levitan group of artists, and he exhibited internationally, receiving many prizes and representing Israel at the Venice Biennale
in 1972.
His mural
s can be seen across Israel, notably at Kfar Uria
and the Central Post Office Building (Jerusalem)
. His sculpture "The Binding of Isaac" is on view at the entrance to Safra Square
.
In 1989 the Jerusalem Print Workshop issued a collection of reproductions of his prints edited by Uri Katz, with commentary in Hebrew and English.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and printmaker. Born in Bourgaz, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, he immigrated to Israel in 1949, where he lived in Ein Hamifratz
Ein HaMifratz
Ein HaMifratz is a kibbutz near Acre in northern Israel. Located on the Mediterranean coast, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council...
, a kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
near Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, as well as in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and later taught art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
in Jerusalem before being appointed head of the Art Department at the University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
. He was one of the founders of the Levitan group of artists, and he exhibited internationally, receiving many prizes and representing Israel at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1972.
His mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s can be seen across Israel, notably at Kfar Uria
Kfar Uria
Kfar Uria is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Beit Shemesh, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Yehuda Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 445....
and the Central Post Office Building (Jerusalem)
Central Post Office Building (Jerusalem)
The Central post office building of Jerusalem is an architectural structure in Jaffa Street, Jerusalem.The building was built as General Post Office during the British Mandate, one of three government buildings in this area. Construction was between 1934 and 1938 to the design of the main architect...
. His sculpture "The Binding of Isaac" is on view at the entrance to Safra Square
Safra Square
Safra Square is Jerusalem's city hall public square named after Jacob and Esther Safra, parents of Edmond J. Safra, a Jewish philanthropist who contributed generously to the renovation of downtown Jerusalem.-Location:...
.
In 1989 the Jerusalem Print Workshop issued a collection of reproductions of his prints edited by Uri Katz, with commentary in Hebrew and English.
Education
- Painting under Arie Rothman
- 1958-1960 Academy of Fine Arts, Florence
- 1961 Study Tour to Seville and Madrid, Spain, and London
- 1969 Study Tour to Europe and U.S.A.
Teaching
- 1965-1975 Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem
- 1975 Head of the Art Department, Television, Jerusalem
- 1978 Professor, Art Department, Haifa University
Prizes
- 1959 - America-Israel Cultural Foundation
- 1969 - Jerusalem Prize for painting and Sculpture
- 1990 - Ish-Shalom Prize for Life's Work in Art.
External links
- Avraham Ofek from the collections of the Israel MuseumIsrael MuseumThe Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
- Avraham Ofek from the Israeli artist list of the Information Center for Israeli ArtInformation Center for Israeli ArtThe Information Center for Israeli Art is the largest collection of primary resources documenting the history of the Israeli Art in Israel. More than 12,000 artists files are housed in the Center in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem....
at the Israel MuseumIsrael MuseumThe Israel Museum, Jerusalem was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. It is situated on a hill in the Givat Ram neighborhood of Jerusalem, near the Bible Lands Museum, the Knesset, the Israeli Supreme Court, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.... - Avraham Ofek Europeana – Search results