Israel
Surrealism
Menashe Kadishman's vibrant sheep portraits and iconic minimalist sculptures capture the essence of Israeli life and emotions, making him a symbol of original Israeli art.
Menashe Kadishman was an Israeli sculptor and painter, renowned as the country's most famous artist both locally and globally. His works are synonymous with original Israeli art, much like Picasso for Spain and Van Gogh for the Netherlands. Kadishman's creations captivate with their complexity, symbolism, and versatility, depicting life in Israel and the associated emotions: love of the land, pain and loss, strength, and heroism.
Kadishman is best known for his vibrant sheep portraits, which have become his trademark, and his minimalist sculptures, such as the iconic piece at the entrance to the Habima Theater in Tel Aviv.
A prolific artist, Kadishman's well-known public works are just a part of his extensive catalog, including sculptures, paintings, and prints. He continuously explored new themes and materials, creating with charcoal, pencil, paint, glass, metals, natural items, phone books, and even live sheep. His abstract prints and expressive, figurative paintings always conveyed thought-provoking ideas or themes.