Ilya gefter
About the artist.
Ilya Gefter (born 1980, St. Petersburg, Russia) is a contemporary figurative artist living and working in Israel since 2004.
Gefter’s artistic education spans North America and Europe. He received his BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, USA) in 2003. His studies also include York University in Toronto and Studio Art Centers International in Florence, Italy. In 2015, he completed a figuration course with Spanish master Antonio López García in Olula del Río, Spain.
Working across painting, drawing, and ink, Gefter is known for his engagement with the human figure, architectural space, and the role of light within pictorial structure. His practice maintains a strong connection to contemporary figurative traditions while remaining rooted in observational discipline.
He has presented numerous solo exhibitions in Israel, Canada, the United States, and Russia. Recent exhibitions include “Front” at Tel Aviv Artists House (2024), “Family Album” at the Knesset Education and Culture Committee in Jerusalem (2021), and exhibitions at Rothschild Fine Art Gallery (Tel Aviv), Charlotte Hale & Associates (Toronto), and Savina Gallery (St. Petersburg), among others.
His work has also appeared in major group exhibitions, including shows at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Yale University.
Gefter is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including two grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, the American Israel Cultural Foundation Grant, and the Ontario Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant.
In 2015, he founded the Visual Art Center Tel Aviv, where he serves as Director and Head Instructor. He has also taught at the Jerusalem Studio School, Ha-Tahana School for Figurative Art, Sadnaot Omaney Ha-Kibbutz, Durham College (Canada), and in the United States.
His works are held in public and private collections including the Library of Congress, Yale University, Museum Casa Ibanez (Spain), the Dubi Shiff Collection, the Ofer Levin Foundation Collection, and the collections of Yuval Noah Harari and Idan Raichel.
Alongside his studio practice, Gefter contributes written work and interviews to publications such as Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post.
Education:
2015 Figuration Course with Antonio Lopez Garcia. Olula del Rio, Spain
1999 – '03 Maryland Institute College of Art; Baltimore, USA. BFA
2001 Studio Art Centers International; Florence, Italy
1999 York University; Toronto, Canada
Solo Exhibitions:
2024 “Ilya Gefter: Front” Tel Aviv Artists House, Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Dr. Doron
2023 Lurie
2021"Family Album" The Knesset, Education and Culture Committee, Jerusalem, Israel.
2017 "Art in Motion" Exhibition and Performance. Arthura Gallery, Israel.“Architecture of Light” Stone Tower Gallery, Glen Echo, MD, USA.
2015 “The City: Paintings and Ink Washes” Rothschild Fine Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
2014 “Works on Paper” Charlotte Hale & Associates, Toronto, Canada.
2014 “Residence Permit” Savina Gallery, St. Petersburg, Russia.
2013 “Paintings” Rothschild Fine Art, Tel Aviv, Israel. (Two-person show with Simon Adjashvili)
2013 “Lights” Bernard Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
2011 "Spaces and Figures" Julie M Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2008 “Ilya Gefter: Paintings” Golconda Fine Art, Tel Aviv, Israel.
2007 “In Contrast” Leonardo Gallery, Toronto, Canada. (Two-person show with Hagop Hagopian)
2006 “Old World New World” Leonardo Gallery, Toronto, Canada. (Two-person show)
2002 “Works on Paper” Maryland Institute; Baltimore, USA.
2002 “A Year in Italy” Veni Vidi Gallery; Port Perry, Canada.
2001 “Encore” Veni Vidi Gallery; Port Perry, Canada.
2000 “Works Thus Far” Veni Vidi Gallery; Port Perry, Canada.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022 Pain Threshold; Skizza Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel. Curator: Lola Vilenkin
2020 Landscapes, Portrait, Still Life; Mormon University, Jerusalem, Israel.
2012 Annual Winter Exhibition; Julie M Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2012 Summer Exhibition; Julie M Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2012 Landscapes and Color; Julie M Gallery, Toronto, Canada.
2011 New Acquisitions; Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven, USA
2007 Presences; Artists House, Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Liza Gershuni
2005 Had Gadya; Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel. Curator: Dr. Doron Lurie
Selected Grants and Awards:
2020 American Israel Cultural Foundation Grant
2012 Ontario Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant
2007 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, E. Greenshields Foundation, Canada
2003 Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, E. Greenshields Foundation, Canada
2003 John Hirsch Scholarship for the Arts; JIAS Canada
2001 John Hirsch Scholarship for the Arts; JIAS Canada
1999 John Hirsch Scholarship for the Arts; JIAS Canada
1999 David Jacobs Full Tuition Scholarship; Maryland Institute, College of Art, USA
1999 Academic Excellence Scholarship; Maryland Institute, College of Art, USA
Teaching Positions:
2015 - Present Visual Art Center, Tel Aviv. Founder, Director, Head Instructor
2017 The Yellow Barn Studio, Glen Echo, MD, USA. Guest Instructor
2007 – ‘15 Ha-Tahana School for Figurative Art, Tel Aviv, Israel. Instructor
2012 - ‘15 Sadnaot Omaney Ha-Kibbutz, Tel Aviv, Israel. Instructor
2010 Durham College, Oshawa, Canada. Adjunct Faculty
2004 - ‘09 Jerusalem Studio School, Jerusalem, Israel. Instructor
Curatorial Work:
2018 “E.M. Saniga: Color of Time” Rothschild Fine Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
Published Writings:
2022 "Kiev's 1000 Year Old Cathedral." Haaretz Newspaper. Galleria. March 27, 2022: Page 4. Print.
2022 "Emergency Art Sale in Support of Ukraine." The Jerusalem Post. March 2, 2022 https://www.jpost.com/international/article-699112
2019 “What to look at the Fresh Paint Art Fair.” Haaretz Newspaper. Galleria. May 25, 2019: Print.
2019 “Who said that artists know better than taxi drivers?” Haaretz Newspaper. Galleria. April 25, 2019: Page 6. Print.
Selected Collections:
Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA
Yale University, New Haven CT, USA
Museum Casa Ibanez, Olula, Andalusia, Spain
Dubi Shiff Collection, Leonardo Art Hotel, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ofer Levin Foundation Collection, Tel Aviv, Israel
Band Collection, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yuval Noah Harari Collection, Israel
Idan Raichel Collection, Israel
Selected Bibliography:
Gefter, Ilya. Interview with Igor Harif. “Author’s Program”. Kan-Reka [Radio Broadcast]. January 6, 2024.
Gefter, Ilya. Interview with Igor Harif. “Author’s Program”. Kan-Reka [Radio Broadcast]. August 19, 2023.
Gefter, Ilya. Interview with Igor Harif. “Author’s Program”. Kan-Reka [Radio Broadcast]. August 12, 2023.
Ofrat, Gideon. “Horizon to Horizon”. The Levin Collection, Selected Works” 2023
Gefter, Ilya. Interview with Karina Rubenstein. “Day”. Channel 9. January 23, 2023.
Riva, Neama. “Never-ending War” Haaretz, Galleria, January 25, 2022: Back cover
Gefter, Ilya. Interview with Karina Rubenstein. “Day”. Channel 9. August 25, 2022
Tal, Hadassa. “So the Silence Speaks” Haaretz, Culture and Sports. 4 Sept. 2021: pg 3
Ofrat, Gideon. “Beyond the Horizon”. The Levin Collection, Selected Works” 2017
Hoffman, Carl. “Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man” The Jerusalem Post, May 3 2013 “Painting in Moonlight” Pnai Plus volume 1105 21.10.10. April 18, 2013: pg 62
Svetlana Krasnova, “Mysterious Light of Ilya Gefter” Vesti April 11, 2013
Haaretz, The Guide. April 26, 2013
Haaretz, The Guide. April 19, 2013
Haaretz, The Guide. April 14, 2013
Haaretz, Galleria. April 18, 2013
Haaretz, Galleria. May 20, 2013
Gore, Leia. “Spaces and Figures”. Spaces and Figures Exhibition Catalog, 2011
Vaughan, R.M. “Ilya Gefter at Julie M Gallery.” The Globe and Mail, July 30, 2011: R8
Lurie, Aya. “Ilya Gefter” Ilya Gefter: Paintings Exhibition Catalog, 2008
Burstein, Dror. “To transcend the formal issues.” Presences, 2006
