Genia Berger (1907–2000) was an Israeli artist, born in the Russian Empire.

Biography

Genia Berger was born in

Kharkov Kharkiv ( uk, Ха́рків, ), also known as Kharkov (russian: Харькoв, ), is the second-largest city and municipality in Ukraine.

in 1907 to a traditional and Zionist family. In 1925 she moved to Germany, where she studied art. In 1926 she immigrated to Palestine and began to simultaneously study architecture at the Technion Montefiore and painting in Yitchak Frankel's studio in Tel Aviv. In the end of 1929, she returned to Berlin, where she began to study painting and set design at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1933, she returned to Palestine and began to make a living by designing stage sets. From 1935 to 1937 she resided in Paris, France. In 1953 she became one of the founders of the artists' village of

Ein Hod Ein Hod ( he, עֵין הוֹד) is a village in Haifa District in northern Israel. Located at the foot of Mount Carmel and southeast of Haifa, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof HaCarmel Regional Council and has the status of community set ...

in Northern Israel. Berger's early work, influenced by French art, was in the post-impressionist painting style. Nonetheless, between the ages of 40 and 60, she focused mainly on theater set design for theater and the opera theater in Israel. Her designs were influenced considerably by Russian Modernist decorative art. Her works include set design for "The King Solomon and the Cobbler" (

Ohel Theater Ohel Theatre (, ''Teat'ron 'Ohel'') was a Hebrew-language theatre company, active between 1925–1969 in Mandate Palestine and Israel . History Ohel (Hebrew for "tent"), originally known as the Workers' Theatre of Palestine, was established in 192 ...

, 1943), "Bar Kokhba" (Ohel Theater, 1945), "Khovanshchina" (

Israel National Opera Israel National Opera was Israel's principal opera company from its founding in 1947 until its closure in 1982. History The Israel National Opera was founded by the American soprano Edis de Phillipe. It staged over 1,000 performances throughout Is ...

, 1952), "Kazmirov Brothers" (

Habima The Habima Theatre ( he, תיאטרון הבימה ''Te'atron HaBima'', lit. "The Stage Theatre") is the national theatre of Israel and one of the first Hebrew language theatres. It is located in Habima Square in the center of Tel Aviv. History ...

, 1956) and more. In the 1950s, Berger returned to painting and began sculpting and creating ceramic reliefs. Her works are characterized by a decorative aspect.Zach, Natan, ed. Genia Berger – Works for the Theatre. Tel Aviv: Genia Berger, 1994

Gallery

File:Memorial plaque on the house of Yehuda Gabai & Genia Berger.JPG, Memorial Plaque on the House of Yehuda Gabai & Genia Berger, 2012
Tel Aviv File:GENIA BERGER 017.JPG, Post Office Wall, 2011
Weizmann St., Tel Aviv File:Ceramics pavilion 053.JPG, The Ceramics Pavilion, 2012

Eretz Israel Museum The Eretz Israel Museum (also known as Muza) is a historical and archeological museum in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel. Eretz Israel Museum, established in 1953, has a large display of archaeological, anthropological and his ...

File:Ein hod 29-7 004-2.jpg, Ceramic Wall, 1966
Relief, glazed ceramic
Main Gallery,

Education

* Sculpture under Leonardo Bloch, Cracow, Russian Empire. * 1925 Painting, State Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin * 1926 Architecture, Montefiore Technion, Tel Aviv * 1926 Painting with Yitzhak Frenkel, Tel Aviv * 1930–1933 State Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin, under Willi Jaekel and Karl Hofer * 1935–1937 Post-graduate studies, Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Paris, France

Awards and recognition

* 1986 General Workers' Union Prize, Israel * The Golomb House Award, The Artists' Village, Ein Hod * 1971 Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport * 1984 Association of Designers in Israel

References

*Berger, Genia. ''Genia Berger''. Tel Aviv: United Artists Ltd., 1977 *Art Gallery 31. ''Genia Berger: Paintings 1994–1999.'' Tel Aviv: Art Gallery 31, 1999 *Zach, Natan, ed. ''Genia Berger – Ceramic Sculpture.'' Tel Aviv: Graphica Omanim, 1998 *Zach, Natan, ed. ''Genia Berger – Works for the Theatre.'' Tel Aviv: Genia Berger, 1994

External links

* * Genia Berger – The Ein Hod Artis
Site
* Israel Zafrir Photographer Archive, The

Information Center for Israeli Art The Information Center for Israeli Art is the largest collection of primary resources documenting the history of the Israeli art in Israel. Over 12,000 artists files are housed in the Center in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. History As a research ...

, The

Israel Museum The Israel Museum ( he, מוזיאון ישראל, ''Muze'on Yisrael'') is an art and archaeological museum in Jerusalem. It was established in 1965 as Israel's largest and foremost cultural institution, and one of the world’s leading encyclopa ...