Michal Avrech
Michal Avrech is an Israeli and international artist who exhibits her work across Europe, the United States, and Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fine art and a master’s degree in art therapy from the University of Haifa. Alongside her work as a painter, Michal works as an art therapist with at-risk youth. Her artworks have been featured in international art magazines, received prestigious awards including the Woman Essence Award (2023) and the Future of Art Global Masterpiece Award (2024) and are included in both private and public collections around the world. She is a member of the Israeli Visual Artists Association, the International Professional artist, the Jewish Art Salon and Stars in the Arts.
Michal’s paintings are expressive abstract landscapes, characterized by vivid colours and intuitive brushstrokes that convey sensations of freedom, vitality, and hope. Her work frequently explores themes of resilience, motherhood, and renewal after crisis, and has been exhibited in major international exhibitions and biennales, including the Florence Biennale, FIAC Art Fair in Paris, the MAMAG Museum in Vienna, and large-scale exhibitions in Indonesia and India.
Her works invite viewers on an internal and external journey, using vibrant colour as a vehicle for emotional exploration. During difficult times, she delved deeply into themes of fracture and regeneration painting darker, more fragmented compositions and scorched trees, which for her symbolize an archetypal process of renewal. Just as trees break, burn, and return to life with new branches and fruit, her paintings reflect a resilient spirit. Her art also explores abstract expressions of childhood, intimacy, and family subjects that resonate with her both as a mother and a therapist.
As she offers her patients hope and vitality, so too does that same hope resonate through her paintings and reach their viewers. Michal believes deeply in the power of art to bridge cultures and people, without the need for words, and sees art as a profound medium for hope and peace.
Michal, your work often arises from a spontaneous, dreamlike process, a visual stream of consciousness shaped by emotion rather than premeditated form. How do you reconcile this immediacy with the demands of exhibiting in structured, theme-driven international venues such as the Florence Biennale or Art Expo NY?
Through my art, I explore questions that deeply concern me as both an individual and an art therapist—hope, freedom, motherhood, and the process of emerging from crisis.
I paint emotional, abstract landscapes in acrylic through a fast, intuitive, and spontaneous process, without sketches. While I reflect deeply on the core idea, I quickly allow myself to follow the imagination, color, rhythm, and energy. The painting evolves like a visual dream, unfolding unconsciously on the canvas.
My works respond to personal themes, and I’m invited to exhibit in shows that align with these ideas. This intersection between conceptual curatorial demands and my personal voice leads to a diverse creative body of work. When invited to represent Israel at the Florence Biennales (2021, 2023, 2025), I remained authentic, even within structured curatorial frameworks. I was asked to address themes of femininity, motherhood, acceptance, and recovery—topics that speak to me deeply both as an artist and art - therapist. For example, when working on motherhood, I expressed the subject in an abstract way that conveyed its essence as I see it. The works resonated with viewers emotionally and were sold. In the Biennale cantered on inclusion, I created a piece inspired by the value “Love your neighbor as yourself,” expressed as an abstract painting about love, compassion and human connection.
As both an art therapist and a practicing artist, your work bridges the deeply personal with the profoundly social. Could you share a moment when your therapeutic and artistic selves collided in unexpected ways, perhaps in a way that shifted your perception of the artist’s social role?
When the October 7th war broke out, I was invited to participate in several meaningful exhibitions in Israel and the U.S.—including traveling exhibitions of Israeli artists alongside international creators who expressed support for Israel, as well as shows focused on Jewish and Israeli resilience. In many of these exhibitions, I painted black over soft, pastoral landscapes. For one show in New York, I created a large painting of a burned tree alongside splashes of red anemones, symbolizing the southern Israeli landscape, but also unconsciously evoking blood. I added the Hebrew word “Enough! October 2023” in red, as an intuitive cry to stop the war.
The burned tree, capable of blooming again, is a Jungian archetype of renewal from catastrophe. This powerful, intuitive work revealed to me the healing force of art—something I experience daily in therapy, where a client’s creation invites reflection and dialogue. This painting, shown in New York, was later seen by curators based in Dubai and received the “Masterpiece of the Future 2024” award alongside other international artists. That recognition deeply moved me and reaffirmed my belief in art’s ability to transcend borders and connect hearts, even in times of crisis.
In your recent works, there is a palpable shift toward darker palettes and more fragmented compositions, reflecting the collective trauma experienced in Israel since 2023. How do you navigate the ethics and responsibilities of aestheticizing national grief while maintaining a personal voice?
Since the war began, my visual language has changed. My color palette has grown darker, with increased use of black. My compositions have become more fragmented, and the fluidity that once defined my work has been interrupted. This shift is a direct reflection of my emotional state—and that of many Israelis. A collective sense of safety has been shattered. We grieve for the murdered and kidnapped civilians, the fallen and wounded soldiers, the hundreds of thousands of civilians who had to evacuate their communities, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The recurring image of burned trees that eventually bloom again has become a symbolic archetype in my work, representing both pain and resilience. As both an artist and therapist, I aim to invite viewers to feel sorrow while also sensing hope and comfort. Art, for me, is a reminder of our innate ability to imagine a better future, even amidst darkness.
Your paintings embody an emotional cartography, abstract yet rooted in place, particularly the Israeli landscape. How do you see your visual language translating across cultural boundaries, especially when exhibited in contexts such as Indonesia or Germany, where political and historical layers add complexity to artistic reception?
My paintings portray abstract, emotional landscapes expressed through energetic brushstrokes that radiate vitality and a sense of optimism. Each viewer can find a personal landscape within the work—one that resonates with their own experiences and emotions. This universality is why my work has been shown across the globe.
In 2020, I held a solo exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, focused on landscapes.
This year, I participated in two exhibitions with Israeli and German artists, in both Israel and Germany, at the Bunker Museum K101—a historically charged site that once served as a German bunker. The exhibitions there represented a meaningful act of transformation and dialogue. I also exhibited at the Florence Biennale, which led to invitations to two major exhibitions in Indonesia. The first exhibition is an international contemporary art exhibition and includes an international art symposium on diversity in contemporary art, art and education. The second was hosted by the Kersan Art Foundation, which fosters interfaith and intercultural dialogue in Asia. Both shows received warm media coverage, highlighting art’s role in promoting empathy, communication, tolerance and peace.
Given your involvement in cross-cultural initiatives and residencies, how do you approach the balance between preserving the authenticity of your personal and national narrative while participating in collective exhibitions that may frame your work through broader, sometimes politicized curatorial lenses?
I’m aware of the sensitivities and complexities Israeli artists face during times of war.
Nonetheless, I continue to participate in the artistic projects I’m invited to—guided by my commitment to create works that address resilience and hope, and open space for inclusive human dialogue.
In addition to being an artist, I work as an art therapist with at-risk youth from diverse backgrounds. There, mutual trust and emotional cooperation take place daily.
In April 2025, I was honored to be invited by Mr. Vinay Rai to an art retreat in India. Consequently, my works—alongside those of other international artists—will be auctioned to support a hunger relief initiative (Zero Hunger Mission) This is an example of art becoming a tangible tool for compassion.
Recently, a global Jewish art community has begun to form. It is focused on collaborative projects around resilience and combating antisemitism.
Whether I work as an artist or a therapist, I strive to strengthen human connections, as I strongly believe that art has the power to unite us—even without words.
Much like the Impressionists who influenced your early practice, your work offers viewers a porous boundary between inner and outer worlds. In an era dominated by digital immediacy and hyper-visual saturation, how do you preserve the contemplative space within your work for deep emotional resonance and viewer interpretation?
In my creative process, I strive to preserve a meditative space—where the hand moves freely, without prior planning, allowing what lies beneath the surface to emerge.
Often, I paint while listening to podcasts on positive psychology or related topics. My mind is engaged, but my hand moves on its own, intuitively—almost autonomously.
This combination of emotional-cognitive listening and physical-creative action helps me maintain spontaneity and access deeper layers of consciousness. From this space, a visual language forms, one that authentically expresses processes of inner growth, healing, resilience, and hope. For me, this space is a gateway between my artistic world and my therapeutic one, where art becomes a vessel for emotional truth.
You have spoken about your desire to represent the humanistic and multicultural dimensions of Israeli identity through art. In the face of rising geopolitical tensions and global polarization, how do you see your role as a woman, a mother, and a therapist shaping the narratives your work puts forth?
Painting is my way of expressing emotions and creating connections between people, cultures, and perspectives. Through art, I seek to promote values of empathy, tolerance, and inclusion. Exhibitions can create indirect yet powerful dialogues between artists from different backgrounds and between them and the audience.
In a world that is increasingly polarized, I feel a responsibility to preserve the voice that believes in human connection, mutual respect, and the acceptance of differences.
In recent years, I’ve received two art awards that align with these values.
In 2023, I was honored with the Woman Essence Award by Musa International Art Group for my unique contribution to intercultural dialogue through art. In 2024, I received the Future of Art – Global Masterpiece Award, which celebrates works that convey messages of humanity, hope, and emotional depth. These recognitions strengthen my belief that my role is not only to create, but also to serve as a voice for reconciliation, healing, and building of new shared spaces.
From children’s book illustrations to abstract emotional landscapes, your visual trajectory encompasses a wide range of expressive vocabularies. How has your early work in illustration informed your current abstraction, particularly in terms of composition, storytelling, or the use of symbolic imagery?
In my early years, I illustrated children’s books and magazines, working with hand-drawn illustrations while also painting in acrylic on larger canvases. The characteristics of my illustrations—quick line work, dynamic brushstrokes, and strong colors—continue with me today in my abstract and expressive acrylic paintings.
Over time, my style has evolved, but the sense of freedom, movement, vitality, and optimism remain central. Whether it’s an illustration accompanying a story or a painting standing on its own, my art has always been a way to connect with others, visually and emotionally.
In light of your growing interest in collaborations with galleries, embassies, and even commercial ventures such as hotel commissions, how do you envision maintaining the integrity of your message, especially one so deeply rooted in hope, trauma, and healing, within the parameters of a market-driven art world?
I make a living both as a painter and as an art therapist working with at-risk youth (Wizo Organization). I often donate or sell my artworks at significantly reduced prices to support causes I believe in, both in Israel and internationally. For example, I donated a painting to the dining hall of a Kibbutz near the Gaza border, which had to be evacuated, and my art has inspired workshops in the region.
I choose to take part in artistic initiatives that resonate with my values and sense of social responsibility. In recent years, I’ve participated in many international projects that promote peace, inclusion, reconciliation, and human dignity. My invitations stem not only from my visual language, but also from the ethical message at the heart of my work. Just as I offer vitality and hope to my therapy clients and their families, I try to offer the same through my art. This effort has been recognized globally with awards such as the Woman Essence Award, the Masterpiece of the Future Award, and others for peace and human connection.
Looking ahead, what does legacy mean to you, not only as an artist whose work is exhibited internationally but as someone deeply invested in art’s capacity to heal, transform, and connect? What do you hope future generations of artists and therapists will carry forward from your practice?
The legacy I wish to leave is rooted in the values I live by, as a person, an exhibiting artist, and a therapist. Values of dedication, compassion, generosity of spirit, and the unconditional acceptance of others. I strive never to give up on hope, for a better, kinder peaceful future. These values are ones I pass on to my family, friends, and the youth I work with. Through my paintings, the exhibitions I’ve participated in around the world, and the international awards I’ve received, I hope these ideals continue to resonate. I believe art has the power to bridge divides, foster connection between cultures, and generate hope.
I come from a family that immigrated from Europe and helped build the country of Israel through meaningful civic and artistic contributions. I see myself as part of a generational chain, as my grandfather, Ya’akov Ne'eman, was a Jewish paper-cut artist whose works were exhibited in both Israel and the U.S. His legacy, rooted in creative and ethical thinking, continues to inspire my path—locally and globally.