Avi Feiler
Avi Feiler, an Israeli and international artist, is one of the most important figurative artists of the modern era and Fantastic Art.
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About his work he says; it is a reminder and an
anchor for the culture inherent in the art of painting,
a culture of conscious creation, as in the Story of
Creation, to bring from nothingness-substance,
to create dimensions through layers of light, to
create warm and exciting windows to pass through.
The art of painting which requires words creates
a limiting scale. The real source of art is that
which is before words, that which is derived
from my " well of butterflies", causing the heart
flutter" it comes up choking at the throat, it lights
stars in the eyes, a feeling of life, love, beauty.
There is already enough negative energy on the
scales of our existence. I consciously choose to
create positive energy through my work.
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The personal qualities of painter Avi Feiler are clearly expressed in the wide variety of his paintings. His painting techniques were perfected through the many years of his work, all over the world.
Avi Feiler was born in Jaffa Israel (17.2.1949) at the end of the War of Independence. His personal development and journey as an artist run parallel to those of the young State of Israel. He is an only son to holocaust survivors Hannah and Yehoshua Feiler. The period was one of austerity in Israel with shortages in everything. The entire family lived in one room.
A natural talent, he began drawing from a very early age. Even before he could walk, he was drawing on walls, doors and floors. As a child he was interested in all forms of animal life; observing them, their complexity and movement.
In pre-school he would draw colored posters for the teacher. From grade 1 up he was a permanent member of the "decorating committee". It was already obvious to him that his life would be connected to drawing and that he would grow up to be an artist. Other studies - were of little interest to him. The educational system of the young country had not yet learned to be flexible and there were no frameworks for cultivating gifted children in the fields of art.
He was often in conflict with the surroundings and home. "We have to build a country, be useful, not dream"... were the messages conveyed ..."What good does an artist do anyway?"...
He would be drawing the scenery for the school plays instead of attending grammar classes; and instead of attending mathematics lessons - he was busy illustrating the school newspaper. Other times were spent observing nature, examining creation, trying to discover the play of color.
An auto-deduct, in the absence of someone he could learn from, he would eagerly read art history books trying to discover from within the mystery of sketching and drawing with color.
He would try everything. He had an ardent desire to paint with oil paints. Stealing sheets from his mother's linen closet, and staves of wood from the building site, he would prepare canvasses for painting. His first oil paintings were copies of the masters from the art books - Rembrandt, Bruegel and Renoir...
After graduating from high school and completing his military service, Avi Feiler devoted himself entirely to painting.
1971: Studies at the Bezalel School of Art in Jerusalem, with the purpose of drawing from the source of artistic knowledge and learning from the highest all that an artist needs to know. Words and theory interest him less. He prefers learning practical techniques. He wants to create art that is steeped in feeling for humans wherever they are, no matter their color, age or intellect.
At the same time he makes a living from selling his drawing on the pavements in the Old City of Jerusalem.
At the end of a year studying at Befall he receives a grant from the Italian government - for studies at the Academy of Rome, and leave Israel for the first time.
1972: Studies at the Academy of Art in Rome. Once again the teachers try "to work on his mind instead of his hands" - his conclusion is that he has to find his own way alone.
Avi Feiler begins his journey through the important museums of Europe: Italy, Holland, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain... studying the paintings he uses to copy from books, in their original form. Hours are spent looking at famous paintings such as Rembrandt's portrait of his mother at the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam, a picture he had copied over and over as a child. Trying to uncover the structure of the layers of color and applying his discoveries and conclusions to his daily work. Observing, hearing, feeling and implementing, entirely immersed in his work, day and night, devoting his life to painting.
He sells many of his works and makes a living.
1974: Returning to Israel, he goes to the Sinai desert, where he lives on the shores of the Red Sea for a year.
1975: He builds a house in the village of Binyamina, and continues his work with great enthusiasm 18 hours a day, for 3 continuous years. As if by miracle - the world of painting opens up to him. It was as if he has acquired a new language, and from now on can express any poem or thought with this language - the language of art.
He has exhibitions throughout the country. Meets the visitors, happy to see them enjoying themselves, excited and enthusiastic about his paintings. At the same time - he teaches this language of art in courses.
1979: Travels for a year through Africa (Central Africa and the east coast) seeking impressions of new cultures.
The Indian ocean islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles
Sri-Lanka and India
1980: Lives in Goa creating many excellent paintings.
Southern Asia and the Pacific Islands
1982: California. Lives and paints in Carmel, California.
1982: Holland. Lives and paints in Amsterdam.
1982: Spain. Dania-Alicante. One of his most fertile periods of creation.
Professional collectors showed interest in his work and purchased his paintings: The Paul Zuckerman Collection in the USA; Toledano Abarbanel in Paris; The Hillmi and Bertfield collections in London; Weiger in Geneva, and others.
1983: An auction for the Libby Fund (The Israel security fund). His painting are sold for the highest price of all the Israeli artists (including Guttman, Reuven and Gat).
1984: The jury of the Louvre selects one of his paintings for the international exhibition at the Monaco National Museum (one of 200 works selected from all over the world).
1985: Switzerland - Zurich. His first solo comprehensive exhibition at the Uto-Art Gallery.
1985: France-Paris. Gallery Des Art Contempro, participation in a group exhibition.
1987: Tel Aviv. The new Shedema Gallery. A large and impressive solo exhibition for the gallery opening. A retrospective exhibition covering 10 years of work.
1987: Japan. Invited by Professor Tezoya Noda from the Tokyo university in Ueno to teach western techniques in oil painting.
1988: Japan-Tokyo. The Tamia Ginza Gallery. A large solo exhibition within framework of Israel's 40 years independence celebrations.
1988: Japan-Tokyo. Invited to teach at the Japanese branch of the Viener Malschule for art (associated with the artists Eric Brauer, Ernst Fuchs, Hundredwasser).
1988: France-Paris. Invited by Mr. Hiromizu Tanaka (one of the most prominent Japanese buyers of the 80's) to work at the Studio Des Jobert - Les Impressions d'Arte. (It is one of the leading workshop in the world for lithography. Run by Mr. Jean Pierre Raymond - one of the best printers in the world, who had the honor of working with Picasso and other renowned artists).
1988: Japan-Tokyo. Yurakucho-Seibu Gallery - International group exhibition.
1989: Switzerland-Zurich. Assists in the location and purchase of works from the impressionist period (Gauguin, Renoir, Monet, etc.) for Mr. HiromizuTanaka.
1989: Switzerland-Zurich. His paintings are used by advertisements all over Europe.
1989: Switzerland-Zurich. Large solo exhibition at the Art-Center Zurich gallery.
1989: Switzerland-Zurich. Gallery Am Platz. Solo exhibition.
1992: Jaffa. Returns to work in Israel. Settles in the old city of Jaffa, facing the port.
1994: Jaffa. Group exhibition sponsored by Art Focus 94, organized by the Israel Museum and displayed at the Hangar 21 in the Jaffa Port.
1996-1998: Paints for an Israeli collector.
Avi Feiler continues to create and paint in Jaffa. Every so often he "goes wandering round the planet" to feel and revel in its sights. He visits his studio in La-Paz, Bolivia, South America or in Mombassa, Kenya, where he loves to stay and paint.
Works by Avi Feiler are displayed in the most important collections in Israel and the world over:
In Israel: The Wertheimer-Teffen collection, Yuli Ofer, the Schiff family, the Harlap family, etc.
In America: The USA, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia.
In Europe: England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain.
And more: India, Japan, Australia, Kenya and South Africa.
since 2007 Avi lives in Costa Rica, painting, promoting and doing his dream,: global artist village.ARTand NATURE.
