
ABOUT THE ARTIST
BIOGRAPHY
Efrat Baler-Moses, also known as Effi, is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York.
Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Efrat began her artistic journey at an early age, receiving a scholarship from the "Black Panthers" as a teenager for study at the Jerusalem Artist House and a solo exhibition sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality Youth Department at the Jerusalem Municipal Gallery. She was also selected to take part in the first Artistic youth delegation and exhibitions in Austria and France sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality in 1977.
Efrat went on to complete her BFA in Sculpture and Painting at the prestigious Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem, where she was a recipient of the Helena Rubinstein - American-Israeli Culture Foundation grant. Her talent and promise were further recognized when she was chosen as one of the ten most promising artists of the 80s in a publication that honored the inauguration of the new Bezalel campus in 1990.
Since completing her studies, Efrat has enjoyed a successful career as an artist, with over 50 group shows and 5 solo exhibitions in the United States, Israel, and Germany, and her works are held in private collections.
Efrat has also lectured on the history of Israeli art and her own artworks as part of the Scholar in Residence Series at the San Francisco Library and as a guest lecturer at other prestigious institutions, including the San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, the University of California, the University of Berkeley, and Congregation Sherith Israel. Aside from being a practicing artist, she has worked at the Tate Americas Foundation and as a private art instructor and art educator, teacher, and lecturer, bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to a range of public and private schools, community centers, and institutions in New York City, Brooklyn, and Jerusalem.
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THE ART
Efrat creates multidimensional paintings that require active examination and engagement from the viewer and challenges traditional notions of what a painting can be. By broadening painting's spatial presence, she explores different ways to make and exhibit paintings, examining the boundaries and semantics between painting and sculpture. Through the use of 3D elements and transdisciplinary techniques, she constructs and deconstructs the painting, creating a pseudo animation that exposes her process, techniques, and forms of artistic practice. Pop culture, current events, cultural trends or concerns, art-about-art, social and personal issues influence her themes.
Efrat offers an inside look into the innards of her sculptural paintings, exposing the commonly hidden parts, both physical and hypothetical. Her artworks incorporate elements and materials from outside the realm of traditional painting, including those from different contexts, cultures, and disciplines. They push the boundaries of what is commonly considered to be painting by incorporating 3D elements, challenging spatial conventions, and exploring new modes of exhibition and engagement. They are displayed in a variety of ways, including on walls, stands, pedestals, and turntables, and often incorporate elements that morph on, beneath, or behind the canvas.
Using traditional techniques, mediums, and tools, Efrat reimagines and redefines the place and space of a painting. Her goal is to create a more interactive viewing experience that expands the potential of what a painting can be, both within and beyond the confines of the wall. Overall, she seeks to create artworks that provoke thought, stimulate the senses, and challenge viewers to question their preconceived notions of what a painting is or what it can and should be.
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EDUCATION
1980-84 Bezalel Art Academy, Jerusalem, Israel. Graduated with BFA from the Sculpture & Painting Dept.
HONORS
2023 Honorable Mention Award, ASIAN INSPIRED ART | Long Beach Artists League
2022 Honorable Mention Award, 66TH ANNUAL MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION | Art League of Long Island
2021 Members' Choice Award Winner, MEMBERS' CHOICE Long Beach Artists League
1983 American Israeli Culture Foundation Scholarship for 1983-84, The Helena Rubinstein Grant (Keren Sharet)
1977 Artistic Youth Delegation & Exhibitions in Austria and France, sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality
1976 Scholarship from the "Black Panthers" to study at the Jerusalem Artist House
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 SOLO EXHIBITION | Tugboat, PLG Arts, Brooklyn, NY
1991 SOLO EXHIBITION | Painters & Sculptures Association, Tel-Aviv, Israel
SOLO EXHIBITION | Municipal Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
1985 MUTATIONS | Anatea Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel
1976 SOLO EXHIBITION | Jerusalem Municipality Youth Dept., Municipal Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
WOMEN CELEBRATE WOMEN 2023 | El Barrios Artspace, PS 109, New York, NY
61st LONG ISLAND ARTISTS BIENNIAL | Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY
NEW HORIZON | Long Beach Artists League, Rockville Center Public Library, NY
ASIAN INSPIRED ART (Honorable Mention Award) | Long Beach Artists League, Long Beach Public Library, NY
2022
CELEBRATION OF ART | Long Beach Artists League, Long Beach Public Library, NY
66TH ANNUAL MEMBERS' EXHIBITION (Honorable Mention Award), Art League of Long Island | Dix Hills, NY
FORCES OF NATURE | Long Beach Artists League, Long Beach Public Library, NY
OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP EXHIBIT | Long Beach Artists League, Long Beach Public Library, NY
THE BEST OF WEST END ART | West End Arts Guild, Long Beach Public Library, NY
THE LEONA POST SUMMER AWARDS EXHIBIT| Long Beach Artists League, Long Beach Public Library, NY
WORDS & PICTURES | Long Beach Artists League Member Exhibit, Long Beach Public Library, NY
65TH ANNUAL MEMBERS' EXHIBITION | Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, NY
ANEW – A New Member Exhibit | Long Beach Artists League Member Exhibit, Long Beach Public Library, NY
2021
MEMBERS' CHOICE | Long Beach Artists League (Members' Choice award) | Long Beach Public Library, NY
THANKFUL | Long Beach Artists League Member Exhibit, Long Beach Public Library, NY
REFLECTIONS | Long Beach Artists League Member Juried Exhibit, Long Beach Public Library, NY
GOOD NEIGHBORS | Amos Eno Gallery, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
2019
LIC FEAR III | LIC Arts Open | The Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
DIGITAL EXHIBITION | Artbox.Gallery, Zürich, Switzerland
GIANT STEPS | Open Gallery, Long Island City, NY
2018
FALL SALON | LIC Arts Open | The Plaxall Gallery, Long Island City, NY
FROM MINISCULE TO MONUMENTAL | LIC Arts Open Gallery, The Factory | LIC, NY
2017
THE 5 NAPKIN SHOW | LIC Arts Open | Gallery II, The Factory, LIC, NY
DEBTFAIR Biennial 2017 | Occupy Museums project, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York NY
ANIMALIA | Local Project Gallery, Long Island City, NY
2016
LIC ARTS OPEN | LIC Arts Open, Long Island City, NY
DIORAMARAMA | Club 157 | Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
THE FOOD SHOW | Local Project Gallery, Long Island City, NY
2014
THE SELFIE SHOW | MONA, Museum of New Art, Armada, MI
ANNUAL SMALL WORKS SHOW | 440 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2013
PLG ARTS GROUP EXHIBITION | Tugboat, Brooklyn, NY
2012
GO, BROOKLYN ART | Community Curated Open Studio Project, Artist’s Studio, Prospect Lefferts, Brooklyn, NY
THE INTERNATIONAL ARTIST FAIR | Parallax Art Fair, SoHo, NY
2011
GENERATIONS VIII | A.I.R Gallery, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD | PLG Arts, Brooklyn, NY
2008
1ST ANNUAL GROUP SHOW | PLG Arts', K-Dog & Dune Buggy Café, Brooklyn, NY
2006 & 2007
TRACING SHADOWS | Israel Museum Youth Wing, Jerusalem, Israel
1999
THE BEGINNING…A SPACE EXHIBIT | The Space Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1998
GROUP EXHIBITION | The Emerging Collector, New York, NY
SEND IN THE CLONES | The Emerging Collector, New York, NY
DIANA FEVER | The Emerging Collector, New York, NY
1995
NATIONAL SHOWCASE IV | Alternative Museum, New York, NY
1992
3 ARTISTS | The Red Building, Tel-Aviv, Israel
1990
PROMISE,10 Bezalel Artists Most Promising Artists of The Last Decade | Bezalel, Jerusalem, Israel
ARTISTS PAINTING ON A BILLBOARD | Public Gallery Project, 35 Lang St. Frankfurt, Germany
1989
GROUP EXHIBITION | Painters and Sculptors Association House, Tel-Aviv, Israel
1988
ARTISTS FOR THE AIDS TASK FORCE | Richter Gallery, Jaffa, Israel
1986
CATASTROPHE | Jerusalem Theater, Israel
FIRST SHOWING | Dizengoff Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel
1985
First Line | Ein Harod Museum, Kibbutz Ein Harod, Israel
VISITING ARTIST LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
1998 The History of Israeli Art & Artist's Artwork | Scholar in Residence Series, The San Francisco Library, CA
1996 Slide Work Presentation of Artist's Works and Contemporary Israeli Art | California State University, Hillel House, CA | Chico State University, CA | Monterey Peninsula College, CA | San Francisco State University, CA | San Jose State University, CA | University of California, CA | University of Berkeley, CA | Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco, CA
AFFILIATIONS
The Jewish Art Salon | America-Israel Cultural Foundation | Long Beach Art League | West End Arts Artists Guild | Art League of Long Island
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
PUBLICATIONS
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Leider, Philip. “PROMISE–Ten Bezalel Artists of the last decade”. Publication in honor of the inauguration of the new Bezalel campus on Mount Scopus. Published by BEZALEL ACADEMY OF ART AND DESIGN. June 1990.
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Ben-Noon, Yigal/ Cohen Gan, Pinchas/Lavi, Rafi/Dr. Ofrat, Gideon. “SIR LACHATZ (Pressure Cooker)–Young Art in Israel–at the Jerusalem Theater”. (Exhibition catalog). Israel: Published by STAVIT. March 1986.
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Bar-Or, Gila and Cohen Gan, Pinchas, “FRONT LINE–Group Show. Israeli Artists June–July 1985. Mishkan Leomanut Ein Harod”. Israel: Published by MISHKAN LE OMANUT MUSEUM OF ART EIN HAROD. June 1985.
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“YOUNG ARTIST’ EXHIBITION Artists House Jerusalem Summer 84’” Israel: Published by STUDIO 106. June 1984.
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WEBSITE PUBLICATIONS
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Excerpt recording from THE JEWISH ART SALON After the Flood: Regenesis V open studios. Presenting and discussing artworks relating to this theme. Artworks done during Covid lockdown and before. Curated by Dorit Jordan Dotan and Judith Joseph. https://youtu.be/p8wSIhGniR8
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The Food Show Exhibition, Local Project, Long Island City, NY 2016. NY1 TV segment (0:15 sec and end 1:18) Showing Piece of Cake, Pear it, Lemon Aid, FRUITION and Applet artworks. https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2016/03/8/all--palates--welcome-at-long-island-city-food-art-gallery
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Featured Artist April 2019 on ARTSY SHARK https://www.artsyshark.com/2019/04/02/featured-artist-efrat-baler/
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PRESS & INTERVIEWS
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Weiss, Suzanne “Israeli art reflects pastiche of cultures, artist asserts”. JEWISH BULLETIN OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (Weekly March 1998): Entertainment/Arts/Sports.
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Photo of a painting. AL’HAMISHMAR (Daily Newspaper). Israel, (1992 Jewish New Year edition): Art and Culture.
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Director, Rutt “5 Faces of Young Art - Review of exhibition at the Red Building”. MAARIV, (Evening newspaper), Israel. (07.10.1992): Art Review.
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Photo of a painting, HA’ER. (Weekly Newspaper). Jerusalem, Israel. (09/02/1990): Back Cover
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Painting on the Front Cover. WELCOME (Magazine of the Israel Airports) published by Israel Airports Authority Ben Gurion Airport. Israel. (Spring/Summer 1992) Cover
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Vekshtein, David, “Artist Monologue” ARIM (Cities) (Weekly Newspaper). Tel Aviv, Israel. (07/12/1991): Art Section
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Baler, Efrat. “About Art on a billboard–Efrat Baler in Frankfurt, Germany”. STUDIO (Israeli Art Magazine), Israel. (February 1990 Edition): page 57
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Photo of a painting from an exhibition, AL’HAMISHMAR (Daily Newspaper). Israel. (03/14/1986): Art Section
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Reviews and photo of a painting. KOL HA’EIR (Weekly Newspaper). Jerusalem, Israel. (02/28/1986): Art Section
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Broshi, Oded “No Ideology - First Exhibition of the Year–9 artists”, YEDIOT ACHRONOT (Evening Newspaper). Israel. (01/31/1986): Art and Culture
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Photo of a painting from an exhibition, HA’ARETZ (Daily Newspaper). Israel. (04/19/1985): Art Section
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“V” - Painting commissioned by magazine, TATRAMA (Art Magazine). Israel. (June 1985): International Edition No. 3
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Levi, Itamar, “Joining the Family. Review of art show - Bezalel Art Academy Art Dept., Graduate Show” YEDIOT ACHRONOT (Evening Newspaper). Israel. (June 1984): Art Section
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Goldstein, Gary, “Review of 3rd year Bezalel Art Academy Students end-of-year show” KOL HA’EIR (Weekly Newspaper). Jerusalem, Israel, (June 1983): Art and Culture section.