Draft:Tal Avitzur
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Tal Avitzur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1962 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Lehigh University, UC Santa Barbara |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Website | https://talbotics.com/ |
Tal Avitzur is a found-object sculptor known for creating assemblage robots, creatures, spaceships and other fantasy-themed sculptures.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
[edit]Avitzur was born in 1962 in Haifa, Israel.[5] He was raised in Allentown, PA. His father was a professor of metallurgy at Lehigh University.[6] Avitzur received his B.A. in mathematics from Lehigh University in 1983[7] and his M.A. in mathematics from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1985.[8]
Career
[edit]While studying for his master's degree Avitzur lived in the Santa Barbara home of painter Irma Cavat[9] and was her studio assistant. Cavat's home was also the winter studio for sculptor George Rickey. Avitzur worked for Rickey as well, both in Santa Barbara and East Chatham, NY. Avitzur also worked for ceramacist Beatrice Wood in Ojai, CA until her death in 1998. Avitzur credits his father's research with metals and his employment with various artists for his decision to become an artist. Avitzur's sculpture teacher was kinetic sculptor Ken Bortolazzo.[10]
Avitzur gathers materials for his sculptures from auto and marine salvage yards, scrap metal yards, garage and estate sales and flea markets.[11][12] He disassembles, cleans, polishes and sorts the parts. Like a puzzle, he then puts different parts together until he believes he finds the perfect combination.[13] The process may involve grinding to attain a natural-looking fit. Avitzur mainly uses nuts and bolts as he prefers not to weld or glue, unless absolutely necessary.
Avitzur's sculptures have been displayed at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,[14] Sullivan Goss Gallery,[15] Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop,[16][17] La Luz de Jesus Gallery,[18] and the Bay Area Maker Faire[19] Applied Kinetic Arts[20] Group Gallery Space.[21]
Avitzur was included in Between Seer and Seen, a photo book of Santa Barbara County artists, released in 2013 by Mark Robert Halper.[22]
Avitzur participated in a video and advertising campaign for financial and retirement services company Athene[23] in 2021.[24]
Personal life
[edit]Avitzur lives with his wife, Lisa, in Santa Barbara, CA and occasionally teaches mathematics at Santa Barbara City College.[25] His home, workshop and gallery are run on solar power and he drives an electric car.[26][27][28]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Hayden, Tyler (2011-12-08). "Santa Barbotics". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Scrap metal gets new life as robot night lights". CNET. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Avitzur, Tal (2017-11-23). "tal avitzur uses up-cycled parts to create fantasy-like creatures". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "805 Living". online.publicationprinters.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Talbotics. "Talbotics". Talbotics. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ "In Memoriam: Betzalel Avitzur, MSE Professor Emeritus and Metal-Forming Pioneer". Lehigh University News. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Epitome: Yearbook 1983. Lehigh University Libraries. Lehigh University. 1983.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ 365Artists/365Days (2014-12-31). "Tal Avitzur – Santa Barbara, California". 365 Artists | 365 Days. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ RecycleNation (2012-10-30). "Art Speak: Irma Cavat Talks Recycled Robots with Tal Avitzur". RecycleNation. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ https://www.mutualart.com/EventsResults/?q=ken+bortolazzo
- ^ Affair, Glamour (2018-11-13). "TAL AVITZUR". GlamourAffair (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ "Retro Robots". www.modernmetals.com. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Philipp (2015-03-15). "This Artist Transforms Scrap Into Sci-Fi Wonders". WITNESS THIS. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ^ Avitzur, Tal (2011-09-26), Weekend Outing, retrieved 2025-06-05
- ^ "Tal Avitzur | Artist Overview | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ https://www.sbcaw.org/
- ^ "Santa Barbara Assemblage Artists Group Show". Art Week. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ BraddeCaussin. "La Luz de Jesus Presents Laluzapalooza 2012". laluzdejesus.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ https://bayarea.makerfaire.com/
- ^ "Applied Kinetic Arts".
- ^ Doctorow, Cory (2012-04-22). "Barbiebot and pals". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Fall 2013". Issuu. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ https://www.athene.com/
- ^ "Tal Avitzur Testimonial". www.athene.com. Archived from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Mezic, Ana. "Video: Math teacher melds scraps into robot art". The Channels. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Artist turns tiny home into go-electric gallery | Rewiring America". www.rewiringamerica.org. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "VOICE Magazine: August 16, 2024". Issuu. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Congressman Carbajal, California Homeowner, and Local Advocates Celebrate Second Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act With Front Porch Ribbon Cutting Event". U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-06-05.