Purim Art Sale: Hidden Truths
From March 12th to March 15th, Art World for Israel invites you to participate in our Purim Art Auction, a celebration of hidden identities, resilience, and transformation through art.
Each artist will be donating 50% of their proceeds directly to the Israeli Children's Fund, supporting children in need while sharing their creativity with collectors around the world.
https://www.israelichildrensfund.org/
💡 Collectors can contact artists directly to purchase the artwork.
💡 How to Participate
Browse the artworks and read the full statements above.
Contact the artist directly to purchase the piece.
50% of proceeds will be donated to the Israeli Children's Fund.
✨ Support Jewish artists & make an impact with your purchase!
Meet the Artists & Their Artworks
Esther of the East – Carol Man
🖌 Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper scroll
📏 Dimensions: 40” (H) x 14” (W)
🔗 Instagram: @carolxman
🌐 Website: www.carolxman.com
Artist Statement:
At first glance, this artwork appears to be a traditional Chinese scroll painting. Yet, a closer look reveals something unexpected: familiar Jewish symbols woven into the portrait, such as the Star of David, hamantaschen, and the menorah. Yes, she’s Esther of the East. The three vertical lines of calligraphy, reading from right to left and reminiscent of Chinese characters, express blessings for the reading of the Megillah in Hebrew, beautifully rendered in a Chinese calligraphy style.
As someone with a Chinese Jewish background, I draw upon both heritages to create a dialogue between them. Through this fusion of artistic traditions, I invite viewers to reflect on the complexity of identity and how what is concealed can lead to profound change. Esther, in her duality, encourages us to explore the beauty of integration and the power of hidden narratives.
2. Disfraces – Silvia Cohen
🖌 Medium: Acrylic on canvas
📏 Dimensions: 36” x 36” x 1.5”
💰 Price: $2,800 (Shipping cost to be agreed upon with buyer)
🔗 Instagram: @silviacohenwart
Artist Statement:
Throughout my career, I experimented and worked in multiple mediums including painting, sculpture, etching, photography, and silversmith. Mainly figurative, and a style that seems naive and playful at the same time, my artwork is influenced by a combination of expressionism and contemporary art. I draw inspiration from journeys and travels that shaped my life experience.
From my parents’ long journey to South America during WWII to my own migration to the US eight years ago, topics of movements and moments of human life fuel my work where darkness is fading and is being replaced by the joy of life. I use old photographs that capture specific instances and reimagine the opportunities and futures that lay ahead of the ‘characters’ in them, situations that are sometimes real, sometimes fictional.
As a result, my paintings reflect the possibilities and ‘what ifs’ of people marked by different life experiences while still in search of “joie de vivre”. By using the past to reimagine the future, I hope to inspire my audience to think about the journey.
3. Hidden Esther – Sara Brooke
🖌 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
📏 Dimensions: 9” x 12”
🔗 Instagram: @saras_scribbles
Artist Statement:
Sara Brooke is a New York City-based artist specializing in acrylic painting. Her work explores the intersection of dance and Jewish iconography, two profound influences in her life. As a dedicated ballet student for 13 years, she developed a deep appreciation for movement, expression, and the interplay between negative and positive space. She sees dance as an extension of Jewish tradition—present in prayer, celebration, and cultural expression. This connection inspires her to merge dancers with classic Jewish imagery, creating pieces that reflect both spiritual and physical movement.
Hidden Esther" began as an abstraction, but as the painting evolved, a dancer emerged. Embracing this discovery, Sara refined the figure, ultimately revealing the essence of Esther—a symbol of hidden strength and revelation. The transformation of this piece mirrors Esther’s own story, unfolding from obscurity into clarity.
4. Pillars of Resilience – Debora Rosental
🖌 Medium: Mono print on canvas, Shibori on canvas with Natural Dyes
📏 Dimensions: 24” x 21”
💰 Price: $504
🔗 Website: www.deborarosental.com
Artist Statement:
Debora Rosental, a unique blend of scientist and artist, holds degrees in Biochemistry, Pharmacy, and Cellular Biology, alongside her passion for fiber arts. Born in Argentina and now residing in Florida, USA, her artistic journey explores the profound connections between color, nature, and cultural heritage. Working with native Florida plants for natural dyes has fostered a profound connection to her adopted home. Debora explores resilience, equality, and the broken relationship with nature through her weaving, embroidery and natural dyeing, using local plants and working towards sustainability. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions, such as Coral Gables Museum, the Handweaving Museum, Florida International University, Doral Cultural Arts Center, Oh Art Foundation, and the Harvest Project.
Pillars of Resilience: A Purim Tribute
This hamentaschen, a symbol of Purim's triumph over adversity, serves as a canvas for a deeper narrative. It tells the story of how a woman, Esther, defied hatred and changed the course of Jewish history. Within its folds, intricate embroidery pays homage to the countless women who have stood as pillars of strength and resilience for the people of Israel, their courage woven into the fabric of our heritage.
5. Honrando mis raíces (Honoring my roots), 2023 – Monica Czukerberg
🖌 Medium: Mixed Media
📏 Dimensions: 20” x 29”
🔗 Instagram: @monicaczukerberg
Artist Statement:
With this piece of art, a mask that represents my identity as a woman, Mexican, artist, and an immigrant, I aim to explore the intersection of personal and cultural history. On one side, we see an abstract combination of my artistic inspirations: typical textiles from my country, organic shapes symbolizing Mexico’s rich and diverse nature, and the intricate embroidery of indigenous women. This side also evokes the masks created by pre-Hispanic cultures, which were used in rituals and celebrations, much like the masks worn during the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Just as Purim invites us to embrace both hidden and revealed aspects of our identities, this mask reflects the duality of identity and tradition. On the other half of the mask, we see a Monarch butterfly—an emblem of Mexico. This butterfly, known for its strength and migration, represents perseverance and survival. Every year, millions of Monarchs travel from Canada to Mexico to escape the harsh winter, embarking on a long and complex journey that challenges them to survive. Yet, despite their strength, the Monarchs also embody fragility and delicacy. In the context of Purim, this balance between strength and fragility mirrors the story of survival and transformation, where identity shifts and evolves through challenges and triumphs.
6. Pomegranates – Ronit Friedman
🖌 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
📏 Dimensions: 40 x 50 cm
🔗 Instagram: @ronitfriedman_art
Artist Statement:
Pomegranates are one of the "seven species" mentioned in the Bible (Devarim 8:8) of which the Land of Israel was blessed with. The majestic fruit, with its symmetrical crown, symbolizes abundance, due to its bountiful seeds hidden within.
Many commentators on the Book of Esther, which tells the Purim story, address the question why G-d's name isn't mentioned even once in the "Megillah". It is quite apparent that G-d miraculously saved the Jewish people from destruction, but strangely He is omitted from the text. Unlike other Jewish holidays that tell of G-d's open miracles, such as the splitting of the sea, the Purim story entails the right people being in the right place at the right time, otherwise known as "coincidence". However, in Judaism we learn that even "natural" occurrences are deliberately orchestrated from Above and that G-d remains hidden, behind the stage.
As an American- Israeli artist who highlights the beauty of the Israeli landscape, the pomegranate symbolizes for me G-d's hidden presence in nature. It's easy to coin our return to our indigenous Land as coincidental, but the crown reminds us that G-d is performing hidden miracles for us every day.
About the artist:
Originally from New York, I have a lifelong passion for fine art and hold a Masters in Art Therapy. I moved to Israel in 2009 and currently reside in the North with my husband and four kids. Through vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes, I capture the beauty of the Israeli landscape around me.
7. I Want You to Know We’re Still Here, Conception, & Tzfat – David Ratz
🖌 Medium: Acrylic, Watercolor, & Collage
🔗 Instagram: @dratz95
Artist Statement:
Born and raised in Woodmere, NY. David started creating art during the pandemic with Israel and Judaism as the main inspiration. David's medium include Acrylic, Water color, Collage, and as much gold and glitter as possible!
1 & 2. FACE & KRYSTALmask – Ken Borochov
🖌 Medium: Mixed Media Art
💰 Price: $2,000 each mask
🔗 Instagram: @mordekai.jewelry
🌐 https://www.mordekai.com/
Artist Statement:
MORDEKAI is the highly esteemed jewelry and headpiece brand that epitomizes the essence of high-octane glamour. Founded by the visionary Ken Borochov in 2009, in the heart of New York City, the brand draws inspiration from the grandeur and extravagance of Old Hollywood and Las Vegas, as well as iconic pop performers and artists like Liberace, Andy Warhol, Elvis, and Michael Jackson. Today, Mordekai has found its home in the vibrant city of Miami Beach, Florida. Mordekai is comprised of two lines. The high fashion jewelry collection is the embodiment of statement jewelry, featuring 24k gold-plated brass pieces, including striking headpieces and jewels suitable for all occasions. The fine jewelry collection is an outstanding display of luxury and craftsmanship, featuring diamonds and colored gems set in 14k or 18k gold. The collection boasts of eye-catching multi-color jewels and diamond-encrusted treasures that make for perfect everyday use or special occasions.
3. A Hidden Star - Tali Rose Krupkin
🖌 Medium: Mixed Media on Paper
📏 Dimensions: 6” x 20”
🔗 Instagram:@talirose_art
Artist Statement:
I transform upcycled materials into analog collages and paper weavings, meticulously hand-cut and assembled from magazine pages, street advertisements, and various found papers. By revitalizing fragments from past and present culture, I challenge conventions and embrace the complexities of identity, exploring the polarity between historical imprints and contemporary perspectives.
4. Sea of Roses by Yinon Gal
🖌 Medium: Photo
🔗 Instagram: @yinon.galon
Artist Statement:
I would like to invite you to dive with me underwater and experience a zone of silence, intimacy and connection. Water and nature neutralize the noises and allow the quiet space to connect internally and overflow with sincere emotions. For as long as I can remember I have connected with my emotions best underwater. When the camera came into my life at the age of seven, I felt I had found the way to express my emotional world. This is where my creative process began from which I grew and developed as a person.
Water has the power of acceptance and healing. The truth floats in the water and sets you free. Underwater I feel I’m moving between reality and imagination, between the visible and the hidden, between the physical and the spiritual and so I see these works as a range between the realistic and the surreal.
5. ShowCase – Efrat Baler-Moses
🖌 Medium: Mixed Media on joined Canvases & objects
📏 Dimensions: 10” x 8” x 8”
💰 Price: $1600
🔗 Website: https://www.efrat-art.com
🔗 Email: ef4art@gmail.com
Artist Statement:
"Show Case" is part of the CASEWORK series—three-dimensional artworks constructed from joined canvases that function as both containers and concepts. While wall-hung, their depth allows for multiple perspectives: frontal, side, and interior. These "cases" explore layered meanings and shifting viewpoints, much like the hidden truths embedded within identity and disguise.
The frontal view of Show Case features a painted reproduction of James Ensor’s Self-Portrait with Masks (1899), an image rich with themes of concealment, revelation, and theatricality. Ensor, whose family sold carnival masks, saw masks not just as tools of disguise but as a means of exposing hypocrisy, deceit, and the absurdity of social façades.
On the left side, viewers can peer inside the case, revealing a miniature stage set of a room—suggesting a private, hidden world behind the public face. This interplay between seen and unseen, interior and exterior reflects the very nature of masquerade, performance, and hidden identities central to the Purim tradition. Theatrical masks, deception, and transformation are as essential to Purim as they were to Ensor’s artistic vision. Show Case invites the viewer to consider what is revealed, what is concealed, and how identity is shaped through layers of presentation and perception.
On the left side of the case, viewers can peek inside to see a theater stage set design of a room. This interior space reflects the performative nature of identity and invites consideration of the hidden truths behind our public personas. The use of masks connects to Purim traditions, where disguise plays a significant role in revealing deeper meanings.
“Show Case” explores how we present ourselves to the world and what we choose to hide, aligning with the theme of hidden identities. Through this piece, I try to engage viewers in a dialogue about revelation and concealment in our lives.
6. A Dance Through Time - Izzy Sakhaie
🖌 Medium: Metal
📏 Dimensions: 11” x 14”
🔗 Instagram: @myisraelnarrativ
Artist Statement:
I often see the world through my camera lens. In Israel, that experience is magnified.
This is a photo of a Chassidic man dancing at a Saturday night gathering by the Tomb of King David—a weekly tradition where people from all over Jerusalem come together to bid farewell to Shabbat and welcome the new week on a high.
The gathering feels almost hidden, tucked away behind the Old City walls, far from the hustle and bustle of modern Jerusalem, as if transporting you back in time. The people, visibly from all walks of life, each carry untold stories waiting to be shared.
To many, the Chassidic world feels mysterious. But within it lies depth—people with real lives, real struggles, and real joy, dancing their way through life.
7. Esther on Campus - Lisa Link
🖌 Medium: Photography, Performance, & Digital Photomontage
🔗 Instagram: @artagainstantisemitism
Artist Statement:
I am a photo-based artist in Boston who also works full time as a designer in higher education. Over the last 5 years I have seen an increase in institutionalized acceptance of antisemitism ( using IHRA definition) on campus. Especially this past year, I imagine all the brave "Esthers" having to walk through the modern-day royal halls of academia and confront the "kings" who control their lives and often listen to advisors who hate Jews & Israelis.
For this art piece, I dressed up as Esther and then combined my original photographs documenting protests with a quote from the Purim story (that I found using Google...).
I was struck by the line, "For if you remain silent at this time...." - it really resonated with me as Jewish designer struggling with antisemitism in academia. I put the Jewish star gigantic on my messenger bag, but it is behind me. How much of my Jewish identity do I reveal on campus? I hold two common Purim symbols up as I approach the encampments.
8. Untitled - Tamir Hadar
🖌 Medium: Acrylic on Wood
📏 Dimensions: 100” x 40”
🔗 Instagram: @tamir_hadar_
Artist Statement:
I grew up in a community without access to art, in a non-academic environment where creative expression was not seen as a viable path. Financial limitations forced me to develop an independent, resourceful approach to creation, using found materials to explore themes of identity, isolation, and self-representation. Art became my way of asserting individuality in a society where I often felt like an outsider, especially due to my critical views on the socio-political climate.
Jewish history and Israeli identity are central to my work. I studied Jewish philosophy at the Shalom Hartman Institute, which deepened my understanding of the complexities within Jewish thought, Palestinian identity, and Zionist narratives. My practice reinterprets ancient Jewish texts and symbols to engage with contemporary issues, particularly those often censored or repressed—such as sexuality, intimacy, and the tension between sacred and profane. I work across video, photography, installation, and mixed media, allowing each concept to dictate its own form.
Over the past year, I lived in New York and California, where I encountered significant antisemitism. These experiences further shaped my artistic voice, reinforcing my commitment to exploring themes of power, resistance, and cultural transformation through my work.
Sides Series
– @rina__newyork
Medium: Large-format Polaroid prints
Dimensions: 20” x 24”
Price on request
2. PURIM 02 (Blue Purple Scarlet: Techelet, Argaman, Tola'at Shani) Mishkan + Hamantaschen
@marinaheintze
Medium: Spirit Paper, Blue, Purple, Red/Scarlet, Gloss Medium/Archival PH PVA, Watercolor Paper
Dimensions: 18” x 18”
Price on request
3. Scars
@liliankebudiart
Medium: Acrylic and Pen on Canvas
Dimensions: 15” x 21” x 1 ¾”
Price: $1,100 (shipping included in the US)
4. Untitled
@tamir_hadar_
Medium: Acrylic on Wood | Dimensions: 100” x 40”
Price on request
5. Untitled
@greicykhafif
Medium: Mixed Media
Price on request
6. The Show
@ronitlevindelgado
Medium: Mixed Media
Price on request
The Queen’s Heel – A Purim Reflection
@alejandroglatt
Medium: Digital print (original sculpture auctioned in Mexico City on March 5th)
Dimensions: 11” x 17” (Tabloid format)
Edition: 1 of 1
Price on request
2. Untitled
@andrewschwartzstudio
2023
Medium: Oil, pigments, and mica on panel
Dimensions: 12 x 9 inches
Price: $400
Price on request
3. I THINK THEREFORE I AM
@annettebackfineart
Medium: Acrylics on Canvas/Mixed Media
Dimensions: 36” x 36”
Price on request
4. Jerusalem
@coletteleinmanart
Price on request
5. Untitled
@dubisharonart
Price on request
