Andi Arnovitz - Visual Artist

“I think that by virtue of the fact that I am a woman, a wife, and a mother, my work is feminine, therefore feminist. How could it be otherwise? Because I am observantly Jewish, I find myself living with a consistent tension between what was, what is, and what could be. My art reflects this ongoing dialogue with what it means to be a Jewish woman, what it means to be a mother of daughters, what it means to be a middle-aged woman. I am continually exploring the politics, myths, and challenges of the woman within Judaism, as well as the cultural and political expectations of what a woman is in the 21st century. I use many art forms that have been traditionally relegated to the realm of women: thread, needle, decoration. I use them to create awareness, protest, dialogue, and disapproval.” --Andi Arnovitz (Artist’s Statement)I met Andi in her studio and home in West Jerusalem. Having first encountered her at the Jerusalem Printworks, I knew of her interest and skill in printmaking but did not know about her other artistic endeavors. Andi’s perspective as a woman and her Jewish identity inform her work. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Andi graduated with a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis and made aliyah to Israel in 1999. She has worked in advertising as an art director, creating print campaigns and television commercials. Of course, Andi’s work has been influenced by the constant differences she sees between living in the US and living in the Middle East. She focuses on “differences between Jews and Arabs, between religious and non-religious, between Jewish law and contemporary society, between men and women, between young and old.” Andi has exhibited her work in ten countries and many museums. Her work can be found in both public and private collections in the United States, Israel and Europe.

As Andi unfurled, unfolded, pulled out, held and displayed her wonderful works of art for me, she explained the meanings of each piece; the issues and identities which contextualized them. Her art is intellectual, creative, and meaningful. Please watch Andi describe her art and beliefs in these two short videos.