ABOUT
Naomi Linzen is a multi- disciplinary artist, focusing on painting and mixed media. In her work, she explores her personal identity and cultural symbols while examining materiality, texture and form. Overall, her work represents an in-depth journey of introspection.
Linzen works in acrylic paint on canvas combined with mixed media. Her tactile multi-layered paintings at once reveal and conceal, and are richly textured. Her works lie on the cusp between two-dimensional paintings and three-dimensional reliefs. A noteworthy recurring element in her paintings is the use of objects that she randomly gathers from her immediate surroundings – such as alfalfa, gravel, sand, and pebbles – combined with items such as broken glass and rusty objects, as well as scrap materials from her studio, such as peels of acrylic paint, or epoxy leftovers.
Linzen’s work oscillates between extremes: balanced and chaotic, orderly and disorganized, mobile and static, resulting in a canvas that is unrestricted yet precise, striving to attain a certain personal truth. The subject painted is mostly undefined and explores the boundary between the identifiable and the abstract, between reality and fiction, in a manner that leaves the viewer free to search for meaning.
Her works have a deceptive aspect, as things are not always what they first appear to be.
Artist Statement
In my works, I examine the balance between the parts that define me – impulsivity and organization, beauty and ugliness. For me, the works express a veiling of truth and the tension between my internal and external self. I am crying out silently about the gulf between my external appearance and the inner mental experience. It is an experience of mental complexity that is constructed from the need to compromise in order to fit in, in the face of the desire not to compromise and to deliver the naked truth, and the understanding that I am able to express internal chaos only when it is coated and processed.
Naomi Linzen
Born in England, 1964, and has lived in Israel since 1974.
Education
2022 Art Studies, Amit Cabessa's studio
2017-2022 Art Studies, Amir Shefet's studio
2014 Artist Mentorship, by artist Shai Azoulay
2011 The Artists' Program, Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, led by Monica Lavi
2002-2010 Art studies, "Hastudio”, Ra'anana College of Art
2006 personal program, Hamidrasha- the School of Art, Beit Berl College
2001-2003 Art Therapy, Beit Berl College
1984-1988 BPT Physiotherapy, Tel Aviv University
Teaching
2018-2021 The Artists' House, Kfar Saba
2013-2020 Dror Association
Publications
Naomi Linzen: From Chaos, exhibition catalogue, 2021
Solo Exhibitions
2023 “After All”,Machon Hamaim Gallery, Givatayim,
Curator: Ruti Chinski Amitai.
Naomi Linzen & Bat Sheva Hass.
2021 “From Chaos”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Galit Semel
2012 “Selected Works”, ADD Gallery, Castra Center, Haifa Curator: Lev Kiperman
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 "Couples Counseling", City Gallery Kfar Saba, Kfar Saba,Curators:Hagar Raban and Hadassa Cohen (catalogue)
2021 “The Exhibition that didn’t take place”, Hanina Contempary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Curators: Hagar Raban and Tali Kayam
2020 “A Burden on Earth”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Hagar Raban
2019 “Midway”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Efi Gen
“Liquid - Solid”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Neta Gal Azmon
“A Window to a Dream”, Ra’anana Cultural Center, Ra’anana, Curator: Nava Porat
2018 “Pleasant Unpleasant”, The Artists' House , Kfar Saba, Curator: Amit Cabessa
“Local World”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Ruthy Chinsky Amitay
“Disruption”, The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Galit Semel
2017 "XL-XS", The Artists' House, Kfar Saba, Curator: Amir Shefet
“From Word to Image”, Ra’anana Cultural Center, Curator: Nava Porat
2016 “Figure -Landscape- Homeland”, Gallery on the Lake, Ra’anana, Curator: Nava Porat
2012 Graduate Exhibition- The Artists' Program, Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art, Curator: Monica Lavi
2010 "Exhibition of Three Artists", Ra’anana Cultural Center , Ra’anana, Curator: Gabi Ben Zano