At first glance, Ilana’s lively and colourful paintings have a deceptive naivite. On closer examination however, the strangely piercing expressions of the characters and the intriguing composition imbue them with an unexpected emotional impact. This results in a strong sense of meaningful engagement between the viewer and the painting. Ilana explains: "Whenever I approach a new canvas, I begin with unguided strokes and allow the composition to simply emerge. The figures that survive on canvas are those which I myself connect to. Sometimes I ask myself : Who are these characters? Do they look like me? Is this me, or the one I would like to be?”
The characters who seem so central to Ilana’s powerful and expressive works are only part of the story. She says: “The lines and the colours aren’t the means to an end but are the end in itself…" While our natural instinct is to view lines and colours as the instruments that build a painting, she uses graphic shapes and figures as the means of creating and emphasising the interplay between colours. "I am looking for the harmony and composition between lines and colours, that's my playground, my working material, my language…"
An Israeli poet, Shaul Tchernichovsky, who Ilana admires, said that we are nothing but the image of the landscape of our youth. Although she was born in Israel, Ilana spent six formative childhood years in Africa, and her parents' love for the vibrant street markets, the local art and culture, the colourful masks, and the endless stories were an intrinsic part of her creative education shaping her inner world. Ilana has transformed these images and ideas into a unique artistic language which combines with other influences including Aboriginal art, Jean Dubuffet, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the naïve and natural works from her own children before they learned the rules of conventional art.
Ilana’s work never begins with the visualisation of an idea or statement; rather they grow in an organic process that leaves room for random and unexpected occurrences. She believes that although an artist may attribute their own meaning to a work it should be left to the viewer to interpret it through their own subjective and individual experience.
Born in Israel in 1968, Ilana Gal has now been painting for two decades. She began to study at the School for Graphic Design in the Israel Valley, but her teacher encouraged her to devote herself to painting. Although she followed his advice, her training influenced her style and graphic elements still inform her images.
Ilana's work has been the subject of numerous successful exhibitions all over the world.
Ilana Gal
Large Works

Acrylic on Canvas 150 x 70cm Jerusalem, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 150x50 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 100x100 cm Belgium

Acrylic on Canvas, 270x140 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 100x40 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 100x100 cm London

Acrylic on Canvas, 100x100 cm London

Acrylic on Canvas, 90x150 cm Belgium
Wood Works

Acrylic on Canvas, 40x122 cm Safed, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 40x122 cm Safed, Israel

Acrylic on Wood, 88x125 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Wood, 122x78 cm Sold

Acrylic on Wood, 121x121 cm Safed, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 122x122 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Wood 40x100 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Wood 40x100 cm Tel Aviv, Israel
Small Works

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Safed, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Safed, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel

Acrylic on Canvas, 20x30 cm Tel Aviv, Israel
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
2016
ELAL King David Lounge, Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel
2014
Art Market, Tel Aviv, Israel
2007
Bruno Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
Safrai Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
2006
Opera House, Tel Aviv, Israel
2005
Museal Windows, Ramat Aviv, Israel
Jerusalem Theater, Israel
2004
Z.O.A., Tel Aviv, Israel
2002
Z.O.A., Tel Aviv, Israel
2000
Bruno Gallery, King David Hotel - Jerusalem, Israel
Group exhibitions
2008
Art Singapore, Singapore
Art Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Isarel
2007
Ein Hod gallery, Ein Hod, Israel
2004
Art Ha'aretz, Tel Aviv, Israel
2003
Art Ha'aretz, Tel Aviv, Israel