"The Magician"
A film about the artist Benjamin Levy by Lars Muhl
Hanna and Benjamin Levy between
Ein hod and New York - By Oren Dahari
BENJAMIN LEVY
(1940-2022)
Benjamin grew up in the Yemenite quarter of Tel Aviv. His father had walked to Israel from Yemen in 1906, and his mother was born to a Sephardi family in the old city of Jerusalem. Benjamin grew up with 10 siblings in a very colorful neighborhood of immigrants. Memories from his childhood are a constant presence in his art.
Between 1965 and 2011 Benjamin divided his time between New York City and Israel. Benjamin's vivid imagination pushed him to realize his endless ideas in various media. He created every single day, from 4:30 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening, even at the end of his life when he struggled with impaired vision and other health problems.
Benjamin was self-taught and paid little attention to conventions or trends. Growing up with dyslexia, he found unique ways to express himself, including developing his own unique artistic language. Over a career that spanned more than 65 years, Benjamin had more than 120 solo exhibitions in museums and galleries worldwide and participated in more than 500 group exhibits. His work is included in the permanent collections of many private and public museums.
Benjamin and his wife of more than 60 years, Hanna (who is a musician, composer, and producer) raised their four children in a cosmopolitan environment, constantly traveling the world and always surrounded by Israeli, American, and cosmopolitan cultures.
Benjamin was vivacious, wise, hardworking, funny, and generous. He had a deep love for humankind. He loved animals and nature and deeply understood the human condition. You can see it in his work which often depicts the absurdity of life.
Selected Periodicals and Newspapers
“Benjamin Levy,” Kunstech’s Nederland, Utrecht, Holland, January 1, 1978.
“Weekend Section” New York Times, N.Y., New York, December 5, 2003, Dec 27,2002.
“OP-ED Section” New York Times, N.Y., New York, February 14, 1995.
“A Painting by Benjamin Levy in the Museum,” Noticias, Museo Sefardi, illustration,
Toledo, Spain, July-December 1989.
Aviram Batia: Shalom Haver: 30 Artistic Responses to the Life and Tragic Death of
Yitzhak Rabin, Project Judaica Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1997.
“Benjamin Levy: Spel met herinneringen,” Kunst Beeld, p.36, illustration, Brussels,
Belgium, March 1978.
Artist’s Proof: The Annual of Prints and Printmaking, pp. 82-87, Pratt Graphics Center,
Greenwich, Connecticut, 1971.
D’Hondt, Roger: “De Maximal Art van Benjamin Levy,” De Voorpost, Brussels, Belgium,
February 3, 1978.
Duister, Frans: “Levy een Naief, Verteller,” Het Parool, Amsterdam, Holland, March 13,
1978.
“El Museo Vial: Una Experencia Inolvidable,” illustration, El Universal, Culturales,
Caracas, Venezuela, May 24, 1982.
“Gek, Dwaas en Eigenwijs,” Journal of the University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Holland,
February 1978.
Juffermans, Jan: “Amusant Spel met de Familie Doorsnee,” Kunst kijken, Amsterdam,
Holland, December 1975.
Kalmann, Inge: “De bizarre visie van Benjamin Levy,”Nieuw Israelisch Weekblad,
Hedendaagse Kunst,p. ll , Utrecht, Holland.
Kelk, Fanny: “Benjamin Levy uit New York: Sjeuig Talent in galerie T., Werk vol
Herinnering,” Amsterdam, Holland, December 1975.
Kohan, Horacio: “El Largo Viaje,” Raices (Revisita Judia de Cultura) pp. 7-9, Madrid,
Spain, 1989.
Kresh, Paul: “At Yeshiva Museum It’s Mostly Sephardic,” The Jewish Weekly,
illustration, N.Y., New York, December 6-12, 1991.
“La Foire Image,” L’Hebdo Suisse Romande, Geneva, Switzerland, April 23, 1992.
Redeker, Hans: “Benjamin Levy: Innemend en ontwapenend kunstenaar”
Handelblad/NRC, Amsterdam, Holland, December 31, 1975.
Restany, Pierre: “Benjamin Levy: Une Histoire de Famille,” Cimaise, no. 175, pp. 45-
56, illustration, Paris, France, April-May, l985.
Soltes, Ori Z: “Benjamin Levy: Kingdom of Paradox,” Sunstorm Fine Art, pp. 52-53,
illustrations, summer 1993.
Barkat, Ella: “Benjamin From the Yemenite section”. Haarets Israel July 24, 1976
“Twee soorten humor bij Levy en Topor,” Kunst kijken, Amsterdam, Holland, December
1975.
Van Garrel, Betty: “Benjamin Levy,” Handelblad/ NRC, illustration, Amsterdam,
Holland, March l0, 1978.
Van Straten, Hans: “Benjamin Levy: A World of Dream and Humour,” Utrechts
Niewsblad, Utrecht, Holland, January 27, 1978.
Welzenbach, Michael: “ ‘Portraits’ Personal and Perplexing,” The Washington Times,
illustration, Washington, D.C., October 24, 1985.
White, Wallace: “El Museo Vial ‘Rafael Bogarin’ enVenezuela,” Geo Mundo, pp. 165-
175, illustration, Venezuela, February 1983.
Artist Mediums
Oil Paintings
Gouaches
Watercolors
Drawings
Etchings
Silkscreens
Lithographs
Collages
Assemblages
Painted Ceramics
Bronze
Wood
Iron
Monuments
-
Where Benjamin Lived
2011
The couple moved permanently to their home in the Ein Hod Artist Village in Israel
1965
Benjamin and Hanna moved to New York City
The family divided their time between New York and Israel with their 4 children and traveled all over the world for Benjamin’s exhibitions
1962
After his marriage to Hanna Vroman the couple moved from Haifa to Tel Aviv, Israel
1959
Lived in Paris for half a year and returned there in 1961
1955
At age 15 moved to Haifa Vitzo boarding school
1950
At the age of 10 sent to a boarding school in Pardes Hanna, Israel
1940
Born and raised in the Yemenite section of Tel Aviv, Israel
Prizes, Awards, Commissions and Honors
1990
1984
1983
1976
1969
1966-1968
1966
1965
1959
1957-1958
Selected One-Person Exhibitions
2024
Janco DaDa Museum, Ein hod, Israel
2023
Israeli Knesset, Jerusalem, Israel
2012
Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod, Israel
2006
CMD Centro Metropolitano de Diseño, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2004
May 22nd Givatayim Theatre gallery, Israel
2003
National Arts Club, New York City, New York
2002
Jewish Museum in Prague, Czech Republic
Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
1998
UJA Federation, New York, N.Y.
Il Bimestre Gallery, Rome, Italy
Louisiana Bryant Galleries, New Orleans, Louisiana
Bergman Gallery, Helsingborg, Sweden
New Orleans Museum of Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana
Nahan Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
1997
Museo Sefardi, Toledo, Spain
1995
National Arts Club, N.Y., New York
Nahan Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
1994
Nahan Gallery, New York, NY
1993
The Dwight Frederick Boyden Gallery, Saint Mary’s College of Maryland, Saint Mary’s City, Maryland
B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, Washington, D.C.
Nahan Gallery, New York, NY
1992
Galerie Maguy, Geneva, Switzerland
1991
La Gravida Gallery, Rome, Italy
Roslyn Fine Arts, Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Union League Club, New York
Yeshiva University Museum, New York
1990
Roslyn Fine Arts, Margate, New Jersey
1985
Goldman Fine Art, Washington, D.C.
Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Paris, France
Sander Gallery, Daytona Beach, Florida
1983
Chrysalis Gallery, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Australia Holdsworth Galleries, Woollahara, Australia
1982
McKissick Museum, The University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina Editions Galleries, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1981
Galerij S65, Aalst, Belgium
1980
Jas Gallery, Utrecht, Holland
National Print Center, Kasterlee, Belgium
Kaneda Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Marquis Gallery, Vlissingen, Holland
Circle Gallery, Oostende, Belgium
Montjoy Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
L’A fiche Gallery, New York, N.Y.
Tara Gallery, Hilversum, Holland
Wetering Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland
Jewish Center, West Hartford, Connecticut
Ordan Gallery, Ramat-Hasharon, Israel
1978
Hedendaagse Kunst museum, Utrecht, Holland
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, California
1976
Le Cadre Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
Delson Richter Gallery, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel
Delson Richter Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
1975
Krupp Gerlach Gallery, New Jersey
Wollheims-Rosequist Galleries, Tucson, Arizona
Galerie T, Amsterdam, Holland
1974
Bauhaus II Studio of Contemporary Art, Green Farms, Connecticut
Ordan Gallery, Ramat-Hasharon, Israel
1973
Israel Art Gallery, N.Y., New York
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama City, Panama
Halsband Gallery, N.Y., New York
1972
Galerias del Centro Deporitivo, Mexico City, Mexico
1971
Aleph Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
Everyman Gallery, N.Y., New York
Graphic Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
Miami Museum of Modern Art, Miami, Florida
1970
New Haven Jewish Centre, New Haven, Connecticut
1966
Israeli Art Gallery, New York, N.Y.
Picture people, New York, N.Y.
Morris Art Gallery, Woodstock, New York
1964
Tchemerinsky Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
1961
Dugit Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025
Amiad center, Jaffa, Israel
2015
Jewish Museum, New York City, U.S.A.
2004
Sculpture exhibit, Gallery Valois, Paris, France
2003
Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
Valois Gallery, Paris, France
Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Paris, France
Miami Art Fair
National Arts Club, New York City, New York
2002
The Gallery at Lincoln Center, New York City, New York
New Orleans Museum of Arts, New Orleans, Louisiana
George Town Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
1999
Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
1998
Firenze Biennale, Palazzo degli Affari, Florence, Italy
Palm Beach Contemporary Art and Design Fair, Georgetown Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida
1997
Keogh & Riehlman Fine Art, New York, New York
Shalom Haver: 30 Artistic Responses to the Life and tragic Death of Yitzhak Rabin, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Traveled to: Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
1992
Sefarad ‘92, Museo Sefardi, Transito, Toledo, Spain Traveled to: Sarajevo, Belgrade and Tel-Aviv
Lillian Heidenberg Miniature Exhibition, N.Y., New York
1988
Festivales de Navara, Pampalona, Spain
Golem: Danger, Deliverance and Art, The Jewish Museum, N.Y., New York
Hutchison Gallery, Birmingham, Alabama
Galing J.L., Oostende, Belgium
1984
Bradley Gallery, Southwest Heritage, Inc., Naples, Florida
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas
Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, Michigan
San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, California
Laumeier International Sculpture Park, Saint Louis, Missouri
Schick Art Gallery, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York
Selected One, Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Paris, France
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida
American Academy of Arts and Letters,New York, N.Y.
Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain, Galerie Fabien Boulakia, Paris, France
Lillian Heidenberg Miniature Exhibition, New York, N.Y.
1983
American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, N.Y.
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Duke University Museum of Art, Durham, North Carolina
Western College for the Arts, Grand Junction, Colorado
Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, Washington
1982
Art en la Carraterra, Museo Vial, Venezuela
Editions galleries South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
1981
A Collector’s Eye: The Olga Hirschhorn Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Traveling Exhibition, through the U.S.A
1978
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
1977
The Cabinet, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Galerie T, Amsterdam, Holland
1976
Galerie T, Amsterdam, Holland
1975
Felicie Gallery, Paris, France
Galerie T, Amsterdam, Holland
1974
LeCadre Gallery, Toronto, Canada
1973
Queens Museum, N.Y., New York Posters from the USA
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
1972
Hedendaagse Kunst Museum, Utrecht, Holland
1970
Law and Justice, Bar Association of New York City and national tour
1969
Georgetown Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Audubon Artist’s Exhibition, New York, N.Y.
1968
Lending Collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, N.Y.
1966
Demana Gallery, N.Y., New York
1965
Young Israeli Artists, Tel Aviv, Israel
Artist Union Gallery, New York, NY
1962
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
Selected Works in Collections
2024
Janco Dada Museum Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
2002
Janco Dada Museum Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
2024
The Jewish Museum, New York, N.Y.
1980
The Jewish Museum, New York, N.Y.
1966
The Jewish Museum, New York, N.Y.
1965
The Jewish Museum, New York, N.Y.
2004
Erotica Museum, New York, U.S.A.
2003
The National Arts Club, New York City, N.Y.
2002
Jewish Museum of Prague, Czech Republic.
2000
Centre for Jewish History, Sephardi Centre, New York City, N.Y.
1998
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana.
1993
B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, Washington, D.C.
1990
Yeshiva University Museum, New York, N.Y.
1989
Museo Sefardi Transito, Toledo, Spain.
1985
Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida.
1982
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Caracas, Venezuela.
1981
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana.
1981
The Olga Hirschhorn Collection, Washington, D.C.
1981
Art Museum of South Texas, Texas, USA.
1979
McKissick Museum, Columbia, South Carolina.
1978
Hedendaagse Kunst Museum Utrecht, Holland.
1977
Skirball Museum, Los Angeles, California.
1975
The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Holland.
1975
Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel.
1974
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.
1973
The Hirshhorn collection. New York, N.Y.
1973
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama City, Panama.
1970
The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, Michigan.
1968
New York Public Library, New York, N.Y.
1966
Museum of Modern Art, Haifa, Israel.
1966
Saint Petersburg Museum of Art, Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Monumental Sculptures Unveiling
2017
The Three Angels of Music, monumental version, Ein Hod Artist Village Yemini Park, Israel
2012
Couple in Sardine Can, Joyce Brandman sculpture garden, Los Angeles U.S.A.
2009
The three angels of music, Ein-Hod Artist Village, Israel
2008
Couple on Wheels, Ein-Hod Artist Village, Israel
2007
Man Hugging a Tree, Israel National Fund project, Tel-Aviv, Israel
2006
The Modest Couple in a Sardine Can, Topor Sculpture Garden, Tel Hashomer, Israel
2004
Couple in Sardine Can, Givatayim Theater, Givatayim Israel
2002
The Musicians, Janco Dada Museum Sculpture Garden, Ein-Hod, Israel
2001
Couple in Sardine Can, Ein Hod Artist Village, Israel
Couple in a Sardine Can, unveiled by the late president Shimon Peres, Carmiel, Israel
Selected Exhibition Catalogues and Publications
2015
Amos Ettinger, “Loves of My Life” Poetry Illustrations, Israel. Hebrew and English.
2004
Polak, Doron: “Benjamin Levy the Magician”, Givatayim Theatre exhibit, Israel.
2001
“Two women” 12 variations on a theme poetry by Leo Vroman, published by II Bimestre, Rome, Italy.
1998
Piersol, Daniel: “Echoes in the Silence” Catalogue written by Daniel Piersol, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans.
1997
Aviram, Batya: Shalom Haver: 30 Artistic Responses to the Life and Tragic Death of Yitzhak Rabin, Project Judaica Foundation, Washington, D.C.
1993
Soltes, Ori Z.: “The Travels of Benjamin and ‘La Familia,’ B’nai B’rith Klutznick National Jewish Museum, Washington, D.C.
1992
Verber, Eugen: “Sefarad: To Spain and Back,”Prague, Czechoslovakia.
1988
Bilski, Emily D.: Golem: Danger, Deliverance and Art, The Jewish Museum, New York, New York.
1984
Boulakia, Fabien: Group Exhibition at Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain, Paris, France.
1982
Palenzuela Juan Carlos: Arte en la Carratera, Museo Vial, Venezuela.
1981
A Collector’s Eye: The Olga Hirshhorn Collection, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
1979
Van Tright Jan. Kinderen kijken u ann, Amsterdam, Holland.
1978
Kotte, William: Exhibition catalog, Hedendaagse Kunst, Utrecht, Holland.
1976
Dr. Gamzu Haim, Tel Aviv Museum, Israel.
1975
Eitan, Rachel: Benjamin Levy, Galerie T, Amsterdam Holland.
1973
Mertins Phil, and Vroman, Leo: Benjamin Levy, Galerie S65, Aalst, Belgium, and Wetering Galerie, Amsterdam, Holland.
1973
Group exhibition catalog, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel.
1972
Kotte, William: Prentenboek, Bureau Culturele Zaken van de Gemeente Utrecht Hedendaagse Kunst, Utrecht, Holland.
1971
Eitan, Rachel: Benjamin Levy, Miami Museum of Modern Art.
1961
Chemerinsky Gallery, Tel Aviv.
1951
Dugit Gallery, Tel Aviv.
Books
2004
“Works on paper” Poems by Leo Vroman, Published by OXBOOKS, Argentina
2007
“Benjamin Levy Erotic ”, published by STF Ediciones, Argentina
2017
“Benjamin Levy Oil Paintings”, Published by Steimatzky, Israel
2018
“Benjamin Levy Sculptures”, Self-published, Israel
Reviews
2005
Doron Polak, Artura
About the exhibit “Between dream and reality” Amiad center Jaffa Israel, curated by Iris Elhanani 2005 Benjamin Levy, a unique and original artist that knew how to recognize the depth of people’s personality…Highly recommended.
2004
Doron Polak
Benjamin Levy ...a humanistic artist…has been compelled by his love of people…a big heart and creative mind, loyal to his family and friends. These concepts should be addressed at the beginning of any discussion about his creative work. A self-taught artist doesn’t belong to a specific school of art,… his works are not influenced by current trends. Free spirited…own unique original artistic language…abundance of visual images.
2002
Arno Parik
Benjamin Levy’s work is steeped in memories of his family,……forgotten language of symbols….Levy’s language of symbols link him to an old artistic tradition…In his mysterious and paradoxical world, figures from his subconscious encounter each other in the space between reality and dream.…his paintings give us an unexpected sense of de’ja-vu recalling encounters with our own past.
1998
Daniel Piersol
The drawings of Benjamin Levy…fascinating glimpse into their creator’s enchanting and mysterious world,. .certainly…. beautiful, elegant logic... simple or complex compositions, rich colors and stark black and white…surreal, dreamlike…paradox ..between the suggestive and innocent…comic and serious.
These pictures are direct conduits from his subconscious…endless source of new images…remarkable facility in graphite, ink, watercolor and gouache, his inexhaustible creativity…
1998
John Bullard
Benjamin Levy’s lively, whimsical, witty and decidedly idiosyncratic art is immediately inviting and approachable. But Levy’s art does have an underlying serious side, rooted in the history and his love of family and his corresponding compassion for all humankind.
The artists drawings intuitive, spontaneous and searching are the most immediate and direct response to his innate creativity.
1985
Pierre Restany
Draftsman, watercolorist, painter Benjamin Levy is a great portraitist…
Telling the story of his family, depicting them with a joy of living…in a calm universe excluding hate …with the freshness of humor… which translates the surprise associations and the unexpected detours of memory…a memory of a folklore.
1976
Haim Gamzu
“Benjamin Levy is particularly outstanding in his fresh drawings and etchings…his subjects reveal an unconventional spice…he still lives in the enchanted world of his childhood…although having seen much and having been influenced by other artists, the style is his own. His work has great freshness and personal vitality”
1975
Hans Redeker
Translation from the Dutch:
In Benjamin Levy’s surreal world…birds and Yo-Yos recur with childish innocence …
With oil paintings, gouaches, watercolors, drawings and prints, he certainly belongs to artists of his direction, which can be regarded as a contemporary variant of the “Ecole de Paris” of the twenties, that of Soutine, Pascin, Modigliani and other Jewish artists in Paris of that time.
