Vivid, Circa 2015

Dorit Levi  

Dorit Levi was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her grandparents made all the way to Israel on foot many years ago (1930). They did this magnificent travail for love of a mystical, biblical country. Both were artists — grandfather was a silversmith and grandmother embroidered traditional dresses with silver. All they had dreamed of was to practice their art in the holy land.

When Levi was a child in Israel in the 1950s, basic existence in the very young state was a struggle for everyone. Food and shelter in Israel at that time were not taken for granted, the country struggling to accept and assimilate, millions of refugees from after the war Europe and the surrounding Arab countries, while still fighting for its life. It took a special family and a dedicated young artist to turn, at that time and in those circumstances, towards art and painting. However, in Levi's home, life was always inductive to art. Her mother was also an artist, and the grandparents were always there in the background to encourage and support. Levi's brother is a painter and graphic designer.

Although not rich, Levi's parents willingly sent her to drawing classes when she showed interest in this — at age 7. She has been creating ever since. She also learned classical dancing, and many other things — because she was studious and possessed, from childhood, an eye for nature's beauty — be it in color, shape or in movement. At age 16, she accompanied her parents on their long stay in Uganda Africa. This trip to the African Savannas left a profound mark on the soul of the young artist, later to be manifested in her colorful, warm paintings.

At age 18 she enlisted in the Israeli army, like all girls her age in Israel (where draft is mandatory to this day). In the army, too, she chose to serve in a profession close to her liking — She became a graphics designer for the Youth Corps. Yet again she served her people and society by embellishing life with color, shape and movement — in short, making it a bit more beautiful.

Dorit Born in 1952, she graduated from the “Wizo France" Art School located in Tel Aviv, Israel. Over the years, Levi has developed a style uniquely her own, characterized by bright metallic colors and dancing figures that celebrate the musical mystery of life. The work of Cubists such as Picasso Leger and Braque influenced her.

Levi recreates and interprets reality in her paintings through a spiritual lens. This is demonstrated with the flow of color and images, particularly the use of fire and land colors, as well as through the movement of the figures. Though Israeli-born, Dorit has lived in Africa. Her experience in Africa, a country filled with vast warm savannas, can be felt in her use of warm, bright colors, colorful markets and people in richly embroidered clothing, permeate her paintings with an enchanted middle eastern feeling.

Levi's works are remarkable for their use of metallic gold and the enormous attention to detail. The unusual rich textures created by the geometrical patches of gold material throughout her works make them unique. The light is always reflecting off the gold differently, and thus, Levi offers us a unique viewing experience each and every time. Color is the most significant part of Levi's paintings because it represents the vitality and joy of both the figures and the artist. The dancing figures transport the viewer into the artist's harmony filled world. Levi's paintings are a beautiful celebration of life and mystery as expressed through singing and dancing.

The souls of the protagonists in Levi's paintings are represented in the birds that consistently appear. The inner soul of the guitar player or pianist can be found on his shoulder or his sleeve. Though often disguised (the birds float in harmony with the other colors from the painting) search for the heart and soul of the dancing figures and you will feel spiritually rewarded.

Levi's technique is very complex and distinctive because she uses many layers of paint and must carefully plan ahead. First she creates the color for the background, and then makes the first sketch of the images. As she then sketches the small details, she proceeds to add color and volume. She paints via intuition using all of her senses and after seven to ten layers, Levi has divided the painting into geometrical shapes, taken their fingerprints and posted them on the borders (each painting has its own set of colorful metaphorical lines) and finally, given birth to a unique celebration of life.

Dorit Levi has a unique style all of her own. The flow of color and image, the joy of life and the movement of figures create a wondrous image for the viewer. Music, laughter and birds, Levi's recurring motives, symbolize freedom, an all-important concept for Levi, who says, “A Free Man is a Happy Man." The flow of color and image, the joy of life and the movement of figures create a wondrous image for the viewer.

Birds almost always hide among the painted figures, enticing one to find further hidden elements and triggering one's imagination and senses. The birds represent the souls of the protagonists in Levi's paintings.

Levi likes to use tones of earth, fire and blue her work inspired by everyday reality and based her spiritual and emotional world. Gold leaves, used extensively by Levi, enrich the paintings and give it multi-dimensionality. Upon each and every piece of work, Levi paints a specific set of what she calls “fingerprints" — a metaphorical set of colorful lines created with the same colors used in that particular painting.

Levi's works are displayed in various galleries and collections throughout the world, attesting to her exceptional talent. Her works may be found in Israel, the United States, Canada, France Europe Australia, Singapore, China, Russia and Japan.