User:AharonFarkash/sandbox

Ariela Wertheimer – a multidisciplinary artist: Ariela was born in Israel in 1957. Lives and works in Israel and has been drawing and photographing for the past 20 years. She began painting amateurly at a young age in Nehariya guided by the teacher Hemey Gal. In 1975, she studied being an X-Ray technician at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. In 1977, she enlisted in the Israeli Armed Forces and served for 12 years. In 1990, she studied painting and sculpture studies at Oranim Art College. In 1997, she begins painting consecutively and begins showing her work in group exhibitions.

In 2013, Ariela moved from the quiet suburb of Caesarea to the bustling city of Tel Aviv. The city invigorated her with the energy to create, photograph, and paint at an urban rhythm. Fences, construction metals, faces, personal stories of people and neon lights created together a combinations of urban art – a type of pop art which is young and fresh. The pace of the city didn’t frighten her but strengthened her and allowed her to soar to new heights.

In 2015, Ariela opened her studio on Kibbutz Galuyot Street in the industrial area of Tel Aviv. And in 2016, she opened an exclusive exhibition at the Farkash Gallery called “The Freedom to Let Go” Light Boxes. In May 2017, Ariela will exhibit in the Vienna Biennale in Venice at the Palazzo Mora hosted by the European Cultural Center.

ARTIST STATEMENT
“Every experience sticks to a part of our body or soul, leaving a clear mark. Often, that mark becomes a scar.”— Ariela Wertheimer

This simple, yet universal and thought-provoking insight is the very essence behind my work. From this space of veritable truth, I build upon the colorful stories and revealing characters as well as places and experiences I’ve encountered to birth my creations. My art aims to not only be aesthetically captivating, but engage, empower and deliver a dose of quiet spirituality and refection for the viewer.

Collaboration and sharing of ideas across boundaries and cultures is of key importance to me. You can see my penchant for variety not only through the tools off the trade, but also in the subjects and stories I’ve had the privilege to unravel and expose. My joint exhibitions have brought me to New York, Ibiza and Italy, standing tall among renowned artists from Havana, Venice and Cape Town.

I have an endless pit of passion, curiosity and child-like sense of exploration which shines through my work. Thanks to a multitude of creative techniques, unconventional materials and the ability to play with lighting, photography, unique surfaces and printing methods, I’m continuously using art to make people realize the truth.

BIOGRAPHY
Ariela Wertheimer is a multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Israel. She’s a former Israeli Armed Forces soldier who’s proudly served her country for over a decade. For 14 years, she’s volunteered at Rambam Hospital in the oncology department and is an avid philanthropist.

Ariela discovered her love for the arts as young girl in the northern coastal city of Nehariya. In 1990, she studied painting and sculpture at the Oranim Art College. Just a few years later, painting had become her passion and full-time career as she showed her work throughout group exhibitions, awakening her desire for more collaboration.

By 2013, inspiration and creativity stroke by way of a move. She left the suburb of Caeseria for the bustling cultural metropolis of Tel Aviv. Israel’s version of the city that never sleeps invigorated her with renewed energy and the need to create at an urban rhythm. Suddenly, construction, fences, metals, neon lights and distinct individuals took over her creations. The lively city also brought Jaffa Port to the forefront, sparking all things marine to come to life and create her Odyssey. From boat hulls to ropes and nets, corals and clams, the ancient fishing harbor on the Mediterranean Sea has turned her art into a fresh, must-have, catch.

Today, the proud wife and mother of five, has her own studio in the (fitting) industrial area of Tel Aviv as well as an exclusive permanent exhibition at the Farkash Gallery showcasing colorful Light Boxes that boast powerful portraits. The collection is called “The Freedom To Let Go” and combines metal, lighting, photographs, painting and print on plexiglass, resulting in captivating, one -of-a-kind works of art.

THE ODYSSEY
Ariela’s epic journey started a couple of years ago, at the Jaffa Port in Israel locally known as Namal Yafo. A 7,000 year-old place where the sun meets the sea to welcome fishermen, yacht enthusiasts and tourists by the boatload. Today, the Jaffa Port is home to famous restaurants, cafes, art galleries, theaters and performing arts centers, making it a true gem of a cultural center.

The people, salty fragrance and liveliness of the area is the inspiration behind her latest collection which she’ll exhibit at SCOPE in Miami Beach during the biggest event in the art world: Art Basel. Art lovers can expect to see visual stories told through the mysterious elements of the sea. For Ariela, corals and clams represent the experiences people go through in their lives. Just like they cling to the ships, experiences cling to our bodies and souls. What do they leave behind?

The fishermen and ships embarking on their expeditions never know what will come up their rods. They throw the nets to the sea, along with prayers to the sea gods for good luck and prosperity. Whether in a storm or calm seas, one thing is for sure, fishermen come back with their journey engraved in their mind and soul. How does that affect their lives?

Ropes are another element that takes center stage in Ariela’s odyssey. They can lift us, entangle us, or constrict us. The meaning of art is truly in the eye of the beholder. Like fishermen leveraging nets to catch bait, in her work, these nets represent all types of networks from social to informational and beyond. Ariela explores what we catching every day?

2018
• Welcometoibiza.com, “Verano 2018”, exposicióncolectivaen la Galería B12 Ibiza. August 3rd.

• Cuatroartistasinternacionalesreunidosen la exposición, INFOMAG.ES. May 8th.

• Cuba, Israel, Sudáfrica, Italia e Ibiza se fusionanen la Galería B12.

• Kcho y Ariela Wertheimer presentansutrabajoen Ibiza. August 3rd.

• Ariela Wertheimer at Cheddar Live. May 16th.

2017
• Globallookingglass.com, Interview with Ariela Wertheimer “The Artist Behind the Jaffa Venice Light Boxes” Exhibition. August 7th.

• Ontravel.com, “Ariela Wertheimer: A Renowned Artist Talks About Venice Biennale.” June 6th.

• Artribune.com, “L’UltimaCena? Stasu Facebook. Ariela Wertheimer racconta a Venezial’eradei social.” June 20th.

• Redazione Manintown, “Ariela Wertheimer: Jaffa Venice Light Boxes.”

• DuJour.com, “Behind the Exhibit: the 57th Venice Biennale.”

• TG5 ,“Le foto di Bob Krieger e Ariela Wertheimer.”

• Flash Art, “Glieventicollaterali.” June 25th.

• Teatro.persinsala.it, “Ariela Wertheimer: Author Portrait.”  June 20th.

• Broadwayworld.com, “Ariela Wertheimer Makes First Appearance at Venice Art Biennale.” June 11th.

• Onmogul.com, “Must See Exhibits to Check Out at the 57th Annual Venice Art Biennale This Summer.” June 4th.

• Thenativesociety.com, “Ariela Wertheimer: Artist.” October 14th.

• TimeOut, “Israeli artist, Ariela Wertheimer, Goes Global at the Venice Art Biennale.” June 2nd.

• Jerusalem Post, “Making Her Venice Art Biennale Debut in May is Israeli Artist Ariela Wertheimer.” May 30th.

• ArtribuneSegnala, “Don’t Miss the Exhibition of New Works Venice-Jaffa 2017 by Ariela Wertheimer.” May 8th.

2016
• Calcalist, “Being a Wertheimer Is a Work of Art.” December 12th.

• The Window, “Wertheimer’s Exhibition Closing eEvent.” December 8th.

• At Magazine, “Ariela Wertheimer’s Lightboxes.” November 8th.

• Calcalist. “Ariela Wertheimer: “Founding Factories Is Creating As Well.” November 1st.

• Maariv TMI, “Art Is a Family Business... At least For Ariela Wertheimer.” Oct. 26th.

• Walla. “The freedom To Let Go.” October 26th.

• Ynet. “Wertheimer Presents: The Freedom To Let Go.” October 26th.

• 103FM Radio in Israel. Interview With Ariela Wertheimer by Rivka Michaeli. September 16th.

2018
• B12 Gallery, Ibiza. Selected works. August 3rd

• ChaShaMa Gallery, New York. “When Women Support Each Other, Incredible Things Happen” in collaboration with Carole Feuerman. May 17th  –  June 7th.

• Artexpo, New York. “The Freedom To Let Go”. Curated by Aharon Farkash. April 19th  –  22nd.

2017
• SCOPE art show, Miami. “The Freedom To Let Go: Ropes And Ties.”. Curated by AharonFarkash. December 5th  – 10th.

• Venice Biennale, Palazzo Mora. Illuminated art works. Venice. Curated by  Aharon Farkash.

May 11th- October 31st.

2016
• The Farkash Gallery, Tel Aviv. “The Freedom To Let Go”. Curated by Aharon Farkash.

October 18th – Februrary 4th.

SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Australia, England, France, Israel, Switzerland and United States.