Harush Shlomo

Israeli contemporary artist and designer

Harush Shlomo (born 1961, Jerusalem, Israel) is a contemporary artist and designer who explores the potential of industrial materials along with the traditional methods of painting and photography. Shlomo has become globally recognized and carved a unique artistic perspective for his ability to break the rules of representation while also conjuring up dynamic perceptions of materiality.

Shlomo studied in Jerusalem at both the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Community College from 1987 to 1990. At the former, he focused his studies on the history of the Middle East; at the latter, he embarked on his early training in the field of photography. This blend of history and photography perhaps served as the initial inspiration to explore the evolution of traditions, both from a cultural perspective and from an artistic one. Indeed, the notion of metamorphosis, in the way of physical transformations of forms and materials, became a central thread of much of Shlomo’s body of work from its inception, and it continues to be tangible in his current creations.

Following his studies in Jerusalem, Shlomo moved to Milan, Italy, where, for the better part of the 1990s he continued to develop his aesthetic language while experimenting with a wide array of mixed media. During this time in Milan, his work was exhibited in Galleria Agape (1992) and Galleria Blanchaert (1994).

In 1998, Shlomo moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he continues to live and work today. Since then, Shlomo’s design investigations have centered on sculptural forms made with aluminum, bronze, steel, and other industrial materials that create a powerful tension between comfort and discomfort and between functional art and sculptural design. But his current practice includes painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and mixed media. Since 1993, his work has been included in 10 different Venice Biennales.

Last updated: February 25, 2020