On a beautiful Tuesday morning, Igal Fedida and I sat outside in the sunshine. Before going through some of his artwork, we spoke about his life and what inspired him to become an artist.
Igal was born and raised in Israel. He doesn’t remember a time when he was not creating something. From a young age, drawing, writing and photography were Igal’s natural ways to express himself.
After his army service, Igal moved to California and began a career in construction, where he became very successful. He owned a large construction company with 25 employees when his world began to shift. In his late 20s, Igal became more interested in his religion and started to conduct his life as Orthodox.
Igal said, “This is where my neshama guided me.”
At the height of his construction career, Igal was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that almost took his life. Igal found painting and creating art pieces as a way to heal himself. His projects began to take over his home and he did not have the time necessary to run his business and be creative. He needed a change and decided to dedicate his life towards his artistic passion.
Each piece of Igal’s work is connected to the idea of Bereishit and Creation. “Why Bereishit?” Igal asks himself out loud, “I view Bereishit as a life philosophy. Yes, of course you can see the connection to the biblical aspect—but it isn’t limited to that. It is universal. Within the story of creation there is the message to all humanity that we can create and recreate ourselves in any moment. It deals with the big questions of humanity.” Igal’s intention is to convey our ability to take control of our lives and not just do what is expected. We have free will. We must view Bereishit as the creation of the world, but it is just the beginning. Igal says, “Hashem is the Creator of the world and it is our job to continue to create. I build through my art.”
Igal’s studies of rabbinic and Kabbalah texts continue to inspire his artistic work. “The texts of Rav Kook fascinate me. I see his writings as music and translate them into colors and materials.” Rav Nachman has inspired much of Igal’s recent work. He studies the works and begins to understand them and translate his thoughts through the creation of his art.
Igal, along with his wife and children, share their time between his home/studio and galleries in Tzfat, Israel and Miami, Florida. His pieces have been exhibited in major cities throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and Israel, and he has collectors in almost every corner of the globe.
If you are interested in Igal Fedida’s art, or other Israeli artists, please call to set up an appointment at 917-573-7074.
By Jennie Mohl
