Liat Michael
Liat Michael
Liat Michael was born and raised in Misgav, a picturesque region in the Galilee, where art is an integral part of community life. From an early age, Liat was exposed to the world of creativity, thanks to the prominent presence of ceramic, sculpture, and painting artists in Misgav. For her, art was not just a hobby but a passion that grew stronger over the years and became a defining element of Liat's identity.
One of the most significant influences that began shaping Liat's artistic journey was studying under the painter Michi Cohen for a decade. Michi not only provided Liat with the technical foundations of painting, but also nurtured her ability to express herself artistically and develop a unique personal language. These formative experiences, accumulated throughout Liat's childhood and adolescence, became a solid foundation for her future academic and professional path as an artist.
After completing her military service, Liat moved to Tel Aviv in 2020, to study at the Multidisciplinary Art School at Shenkar College, one of Israel's most prestigious institutions for art and design studies. During her studies at Shenkar, Liat was exposed to a wide range of mediums and techniques, which allowed her to refine both her technical and conceptual skills. However, it was during Liat's third year in 2023, when she was accepted into the student exchange program at Weissensee Art Academy in Berlin, that she experienced a major turning point in her artistic development.
In Berlin, within the rich artistic and intellectual context of the academy, Liat discovered the world of printmaking. The printmaking medium, particularly woodcutting, which had developed greatly in Germany, fascinated and captivated her, becoming a central focus of her work. The challenges of moving to Berlin and the personal and artistic difficulties Liat faced there significantly contributed to her growth as an artist. Liat's hands-on experience in the academy’s printmaking workshops and the inspiration she drew from the city of Berlin provided fertile ground for the development of her personal artistic language.
After returning from the exchange program in Berlin in 2023, Liat was accepted to an internship in the Israeli Art Department at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where she worked under Dalit Matityahu, the chief curator. The internship at the museum was another defining moment in her professional journey, as it allowed Liat to deepen her understanding of Israeli art history, local culture, and the social and political processes that led to the founding of the state. Simultaneously, she honed her writing and research skills by playing a key role in the exhibition "Material Imagination," where she wrote texts for various artworks and engaged with the museum's rich archives, academic articles, and historical materials.
Through all these experiences, Liat developed an artistic approach that integrates technical depth and broad theoretical understanding with personal experiences and cultural connections.
In Liat's fourth year, she participated in the Perach project, where she volunteered at Keshet School in South Tel Aviv, mentoring students aged 8-12. Liat provided them with a listening ear and support through art. The artistic process helped them express themselves personally and explore different materials. The physical engagement with materials served as therapy for them. This process was deeply meaningful and moving for her. This volunteer work not only strengthened Liat's connection to artistic practice but also highlighted art's healing power and its ability to positively impact others, particularly marginalized populations. This experience deepened Liat's understanding of the social and emotional role of art.
Liat is a graduate of the Multidisciplinary Art School at Shenkar in 2024. Her final exhibition, "Easy Prey," was born out of an exploration of medical images of her own internal body. Liat's work is accompanied by documentation and recordings of internal movements that are externally perceived. In doing so, she curated a personal archive of medical exams, photographs, and intimate impressions. Bodily sensations are expressed through various printmaking techniques such as engraving and carving. These techniques allow for a direct confrontation with the body's fluctuations and signals. Materiality and the imprint of movement create a common thread throughout Liat's work, inviting contemplation, identification, and a profound encounter from within and without.
