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Rhea Carmi

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Rhea Carmi
ברוריה כרמי
Born
Bruria Even-Chen (Hebrew: ברוריה אבן-חן)

(1942-04-03)April 3, 1942
Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine
NationalityIsraeli-American
EducationTel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv
Known forPainting Sculpture
MovementAbstract art
Websiterheacarmi.com
Reaching Out - Earth Music
Reaching Out - Earth Music
ArtistRhea Carmi
Year2009 (2009)
TypeMixed media, Box-spring, tar paper, twine and paint
Dimensions180 cm × 150 cm × 24 cm (72 in × 60 in × 9.5 in)
LocationLos Angeles

Rhea Carmi (Hebrew: ברוריה כרמי; born 1942) (variant name: Bruria Carmi), is an Israeli American abstract and mixed-media artist and sculptor. Her work, spanning over five decades, explores themes of human emotion, conflict, and the enduring human spirit through abstract forms and a variety of media. Carmi has exhibited her art internationally, with shows in Israel, Europe, Australia, New York, and Los Angeles, earning recognition for her distinctive vision and tactile approach to art-making.

Early life and education

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Carmi was born in Jerusalem a region known for its spiritual and passionate character. She studied visual art at Tel-Aviv University from 1974 to 1976, followed by further studies at the Ramat-Gan Institute for the Arts from 1977 to 1979. Her artistic development was significantly influenced by her mentors, Israeli artists Arie Aroch and Motti Mizrachi, who helped shape her approach to abstract and mixed-media art.

Career

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Carmi’s career is marked by a deep commitment to exploring the human condition through her abstract and mixed-media works. Over the past fifty years, she has produced a significant body of work using a diverse range of materials, including oils, sand, water, treated paper, canvas, and wood. Her technique involves layering, smoothing, and sculpting these materials to create abstract impressions that invite both visual and tactile engagement. Her works are often described as topographies of intimate landscapes and mappings of emotions, serving as a personal diary that chronicles events impacting humanity and nature. Themes central to her art include introspection, conflict, human emotion, and the effects of power and greed.

Carmi has been an active member of the art community, notably as a member of the ARTROM Gallery Guild [1] and served as juror for Abstract Forms for the ARTROM International Art Competition 2008[2]

Art critic Peter Frank has praised her, stating, "Her vision is distinctive and her articulation of a difficult (if visually attractive) formal language is particularly impressive.".[3] Similarly, Roberta Carasso, an art writer and consultant, noted, "Rhea is one of the most dedicated artists I have ever met. She continuously creates art that has depth and meaning and speaks to global issues."[4]

Artistic style

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Carmi’s artistic style is characterized by her innovative use of mixed media to create abstract forms that convey profound emotional and thematic content. She employs materials such as oils, sand, water, treated paper, canvas, and wood, manipulating them through layering and sculpting techniques to produce works that are both visually and physically engaging. Her art is known for its tactile quality, inviting viewers to experience it on multiple sensory levels.

A significant series in her oeuvre is the “Dark Series,” created in 2007 in response to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict and personal family challenges. This series, as described by Peter Frank, features a simpler, more sober palette and formal vocabulary, with works that emphasize human frailty, sensuality, and a “persistent glow of hope”.[5] The series includes soft, three-dimensional shapes, copper-hued panels with “windows,” and white forms on black grounds, symbolizing order and harmony amidst turmoil.

Exhibitions

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Carmi has held numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide, showcasing her work in diverse cultural contexts. Her exhibition history reflects her international presence and the broad appeal of her art. Below is a selection of her notable exhibitions:

  • 1980 Beit Yad LeBanim Tel Aviv, Israel
  • 1980 The Tel-Aviv Art Pavilion Tel Aviv, Israel
  • 1980/1981 Turel Art Gallery Tel Aviv, Israel
  • 1981 13&1/2 Gallery Jaffa, Israel
  • 1984 Pacific Design Center Los Angeles, CA
  • 2004 Lawrence Asher Gallery Los Angeles, CA
  • 2004 B.G.H Gallery Santa Monica, CA
  • 2004 TarFest[6] Los Angeles, CA
  • 2005 Lawrence Asher Gallery[7][8] Los Angeles, CA
  • 2005 Municipal Art Gallery Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 The Gotthelf Art Gallery[9] Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 Lawrence Asher Gallery[10][11] Los Angeles, CA
  • 2006 Klapper Gallery Los Angeles, CA
  • 2007 LA Contemporary[12] Los Angeles, CA
  • 2007 Art Pic[13] North Hollywood, CA
  • 2007 Galerie Le Cocon[14][15] Hamburg, Germany
  • 2007 Torrance Art Museum[16] Torrance, CA
  • 2007/2008 Riverside Art Museum[17] Riverside, CA
  • 2008 Soka University of America, Founder's Hall Art Gallery[18][19][20] Aliso Viejo, CA
  • 2008 Frank Pictures Gallery[21][22] Santa Monica, CA
  • 2008 Villa di Donato[23][24] Napoli, Italy
  • 2009 Concordia University[25] Irvine, CA
  • 2009 CAP Gallery Laguna Beach, CA
  • 2009 USC Hillel/companion show to MAG(Barnsdall) LA, CA
  • 2010 Bell Gallery Los Angeles, CA
  • 2010 Gotthelf Art Gallery[26][27] La Jola, CA
  • 2010 the Jewish Federation's Bell Family Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2010 Four Seasons Hotel Gallery, Westlake Village, CA
  • 2010 Orange County Center for Contemporary Art,[28] Santa Ana, CA
  • 2010 Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2010 Gotthelf Art Gallery, La Jolla, CA
  • 2010 Four Seasons Hotel Gallery,[29] Westlake Village, CA
  • 2011 Four Seasons Hotel Gallery, Westlake Village, CA
  • 2011 "Text and Texture", Fresh Paint Gallery,[30] Culver City, CA
  • 2012 Four Seasons Hotel Gallery, Westlake Village, CA
  • 2012 Keller Williams,[31] Encino, CA
  • 2012 LA Art Platform, Santa Monica, CA
  • 2012 "40/40" USC Hillel,[32] Santa Monica, CA

Public collections

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Her work has also been featured at prestigious venues such as the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, CA. Carmi’s exhibitions have been reviewed in publications such as California Contemporary Art Magazine (September/October 2010), THE Magazine (October 2008), and the OC Register (September 2008), underscoring her impact in the art world.

Personal life

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Carmi resides in California with her husband, with whom she has been married for over 48 years as of 2024. She continues to live and work in Los Angeles, where she remains an active figure in the art community.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ARTROM Gallery Guild".
  2. ^ "Rhea Carmi Juror for Abstract Forms '08 ARTROM".
  3. ^ "LinkedIn profile of Rhea Carmi". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-05-23. Recommendation from Peter Frank
  4. ^ "LinkedIn profile of Rhea Carmi". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2025-05-23. Recommendation from Roberta Carasso
  5. ^ "Dark Series Essay" (PDF).
  6. ^ "TARFEST Alumni".
  7. ^ "Rhea Carmi at Lawrence Asher Gallery 2005". Archived from the original on July 10, 2006.
  8. ^ "Israeli Artist Paints a Path to Healing".
  9. ^ "Carmi's works are hampered by the artist".
  10. ^ "Passionately Un-objective at Lawrence Asher Gallery". Archived from the original on May 30, 2007.
  11. ^ "Rhea Carmi Passionately Un-objective".
  12. ^ "Rhea Carmi: Les Voix du Silence".
  13. ^ "Rhea Carmi at Art Pic".
  14. ^ "Rhea Carmi at Galerie Le Cocon (German)".
  15. ^ "Rhea Carmi at Galerie Le Cocon".
  16. ^ "Torrance Art Museum".
  17. ^ "Riverside Art Museum".
  18. ^ "Soka University Art Gallery".
  19. ^ "THE Magazine - Rhea Carmi Voice of Silence, Voices of Hope".[dead link]
  20. ^ "Rhea Carmi's artwork is on exhibit at Soka University in Aliso Viejo".
  21. ^ "Rhea Carmi at Frank Pictures Gallery".
  22. ^ "Video - John Lennon Photos Interview at Frank Pictures Gallery, with Rhea's art as backdrop". YouTube.
  23. ^ "Villa di Donato".
  24. ^ "Luce dal buio di Rhea Carmi (Italian)".
  25. ^ "Our Fragile Earth".
  26. ^ "California Contemporary Art Magazine".
  27. ^ "Israeli-American artists show work at Gotthelf Art Gallery".
  28. ^ "Revisiting Beauty".
  29. ^ "Canvas to a Cure".
  30. ^ Frank, Priscilla (November 7, 2011). "Text & Texture at Fresh Paint Art Advisors". Huffington Post.
  31. ^ "SUMMER ART GALLERY RECEPTION" (PDF).
  32. ^ "40 40 celebrating the 40th anniversary of the USC Hillel art gallery".
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