Location: Canada
Irit Epstein studied fine arts for five years at the Academy of Art (HDK) in Berlin, Germany, receiving a Masters of Fine Arts. Additionally, she completed a Masters degree in Art Therapy at New York University. Her work appears in private collections in Israel, Germany, England, Belgium, USA and Canada.
Irit's paintings are a personal diary and a reflection of a continuing journey within herself, carrying on a dialogue with the environment and responding through symbolic imagery. This visual exploration reflects the constant interaction between universal elements and personal symbols, allowing a reflective look at their complicated co-existence. Diving into her internal landscapes, Irit retrieves images and combines them with external impressions to create a space, an experience, and an atmosphere to arouse the curiosity and imagination of the viewer.
Education
- M.A. in Art Therapy, New York University, New York, NY
- Master of Fine Arts, Academy of Art (HDK), Berlin, Germany
Exhibitions
2018 Gladstone Hotel, Toronto – 'Why the @#&! Do you Paint?: All Those Lines'
2018 Gallery 1313, Toronto – ‘Inside Insight'
2018 Neilson Park Creative Centre, Etobicoke – ‘Impact 2018’
2017 The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto – 'Next2'
2017 Gallery 1313, Toronto – 'Life Disrupted'
2016 Agora Gallery, New York City – 'Dynamic Visions'
2016 Art Gallery of Mississauga – '38th Annual Juried Show' – Finalist
2015 The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto – 'Next!'
2015 Gladstone Hotel, Toronto – 'Why the @#&! Do You Paint?'
2015 Red Head Gallery, Toronto – 'Insomnia'
2015 Miles Nadal JCC Gallery, Toronto – 10th Anniversary Gallery Show
2015 Bluffs Gallery, Scarborough – 'Unsung Sheroes'
2014 Articsok Gallery, Toronto – 'From Her Point of View'
2014 Doris McCarthy Gallery, Scarborough – 'Back to Basics' (Juror's Choice)
2014 Articsok Gallery, Toronto – 'Ubuntu – Carrying Forward Nelson Mandela's Vision'
2013 Solo exhibition: 'Inner Spaces' – Articsok Gallery, Toronto
2013 Solo exhibition: 'Rising Beyond the Body' – Miles Nadal JCC Gallery, Toronto
2013 Articsok Gallery, Toronto – 'Surrealism for the 21st Century'
2013 Articsok Gallery, Toronto – Grand Opening
2013 Papermill Gallery, Toronto – 'ChildSight'
2013 Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto – 'LastIn' exhibitions – January, March
2012 Solo exhibition: 'Rising Beyond the Body' – Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto
2012 Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto – 'This Is the End'
2012 Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, Brantford, Ontario – 'War & Peace'
2012 Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto – 'Beautiful Me'
2012 Bezpala Brown Gallery, Toronto – 'LastIn' exhibitions –
February (Jury Award Winner); March, August
2011 Arta Gallery, Toronto – 'Annual Holiday Show'
2011 Arta Gallery, Toronto – 'Contemporary Art'
2011 Arta Gallery, Toronto – 'Free Coloring'
2007 Traveling exhibition 'Contenedores De Espiritu', Mexico – Galeria Emilia Cohen, Mexico City; Museo de la Cultura Maya Chetumal, Quintanarro; Museo de la Isla de Cozumel, Quintanarro; Plaza Coculcan Center, Cancun, Quintanarro
2006 Solo exhibition: The 'Museal Windows' – Gallery, Ramat Aviv, Israel
2005 Solo exhibition: 'Rising Beyond the Body' – Givatayim Theatre, Givatayim, Israel
2004 Traveling exhibition, South Sharon District Council, Israel – 'Disengagement'
2003 Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy
2003 Artists Association of the Moshavim Movement, Tel-Aviv, Israel – 'Abstract'
2002 Solo exhibition – Tel-Aviv Performing Arts Centre, Tel-Aviv, Israel
2002 Artist Studio, Hadera, Israel – 'Genesis'
2002 Bible House Museum, Tel-Aviv, Israel – 'Multinational Biblical Creators'
2002 Contemporary Art Museum, Hanita, Israel – 'Liberty'
2001 Solo exhibition: 'Adaptation' – Lesley College, Netanya, Israel
2001 The Winery, Rishon LeZion, Israel
2000 Solo exhibition: 'Adaptation' – Sara Erman Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel
1996 Solo exhibition: 'The Short Century' – Tiroche Gallery, Jaffa, Israel
1995-1999 Painters & Sculptors Association, Tel-Aviv, Israel – Annual exhibitions
1985 Academy of Art (HDK), Berlin, Germany
1985 'Die, die Heute von Heute sind, sind Morgen von Gestern' –
Kunstquartier Ackerstrasse, Berlin, Germany
These paintings explore imaginary spaces in an internal quest for undiscovered landscapes.
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
From the series 'Exoplanets'
"Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act" (Dr. Seuss)
The paintings examine the attempt to cope with processes of adaptation in a changing world. They express the endeavour to contend with a dynamic world that, while constantly changing, does not enable direction or an answer. The motivating force in these paintings is the power of personal growth as a center of gravity that maintains stability and equilibrium. For this purpose, one needs the ability to rise up, not only as a body but beyond it, as a symbol for an emotional state aiming to balance, as the fall is always concealed and lying in wait.
Personal growth is portrayed in the lengthened figures, extended as if from within to the edge of the canvas, as an expression of the developing connection to one's self and to others. In order to allow our attention to linger for a moment on experiences that evade us, the figures are frozen in place in perfect equilibrium. The rope that is tossed aloft remains frozen in space. This is the specific sensation one feels when life itself appears suspended in time. In the absence of movement, time stands still. The mental discovery at that moment exposes not only caution and fragility, but also passion and the courage to embrace the world with open arms, thus rising above the body.
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body' (SOLD)
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
From the series 'Rising Beyond the Body'
This series of paintings presents an artistic exploration of the hectic and pressured lifestyle often characterized by the loss of time and space. The running figures suggest that women in modern urban life are powerful, active and fully engaged, yet lack the ability to pause. The works ask how women can interact with their inner life while being in constant movement.
From the series 'Fast Lane'.
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Fast Lane'
From the series 'Around the Bend'.
"When you set out for Ithaka ask that your way be long... Ithaka gave you a splendid journey." C.P. Cavafy
These paintings are an introspective diary of my journey through life. This journey is a quest and an inspiration. It is what frees the soul from demons and obstacles. The dwelling places of the demons are in one's state of mind, and the mind has the power to create and dissolve. In this voyage, I attempt to broaden and brighten my perception of what surrounds me.
Diving into my internal landscapes, I retrieve images and combine them with external impressions to create a space, an experience, and an atmosphere that echo time. I paint with a sense of the direction I want to take, but I welcome unexpected turns along the way.
By integrating images and abstract forms and creating tension between discipline and improvisation, I look to convey an impression of my inner self and arouse the curiosity and imagination of the viewer.
From the series 'Odyssey'.
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
From the series 'Odyssey'
An introspective diary of a journey and a quest.
“Glimpse”
“Cascade 501”
“Adagio”
“Riverman”
“Exoplanet”
“The Crossing”
“Black Dwarfs”
“Occulation”
“On the Rocks”
“Winter Solstice”
“Rising Beyond the Body”
“Balancing Act”
“String Theory”
“à Deux”
“Dual Singularity”
“Step with Care”
“Charon”
“Sea of Tranquility”
“Equilibrium”
“Reiteration”
“Metrospace”
“Fast Lane (1)”
“Fast Lane (2)”
“Fast Lane (3)”
“Fast Lane (5)”
“Fast Lane (7)”
“Fast Lane (8)”
“Fast Lane (9)”
“Fast Lane (11)”
“Around the Bend (1)”
“Around the Bend (2)”
“Around the Bend (3)”
“Around the Bend (5)”
“Around the Bend (6)”
“Odysseus”
“Somewhere Sometime”
“Hausdorff”
“Elements”
“Great Wall”
“Where Go the Boats?”
“Beyond the Sea ”
“Free Fall”
“Mr. Hope”
“Behind the Looking Glass”
“Atlas”
“Acquiescence”
“Inside Insight ”
“Mal Volition”
“Heavenly Bodies”
“Sandy Land”
“The Map with No North”
“Just West of Yesterday ”
“The Map and the Territory”
“Cold Days of February ”
“Only Time”
“Trusting in the Rising Light”
