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Larry Abramson, Israeli, born in 1954, South Africa.

Larry Abramson was born in Durban, South Africa. In 1961, he immigrated to Israel with his family and settled in Jerusalem. He studied art with Yona Mach at the Hebrew University High School and devoted much time to painting. In 1970, he signed the High School Seniors Letter protesting the Israel government's foot-dragging on the subject of peace.

In the early 1970s, Abramson studied art history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and moved to London to continue his art studies, but only remained there for one year. In 1975, he began to work in printmaking. He became an instructor and curator at the Jerusalem Print Workshop and began exhibiting in Jerusalem galleries. In 1984, he began to teach at Bezalel. His work in the 1970s and 80s quoted from art history as a tool for critical reflections on art. This was particularly evident in "Anatomical Painting" (1980-1983), "Nevo" (1984-1986) and "Column" (1988).

In 1992, he was elected chairman of the Fine Arts Department of Bezalel. In 1996, he received his professorship. In 1995, he showed his series, Tsooba, which explored the politics of Israeli landscape and aroused great public debate. From the 1990s, he published many essays on the link between art history and the political and social significance of art. Major works from this period include "The Return of the Black Square" and a series of drawings, "The Pile" (2002-2004).

Education

1972 Art History, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem
1973 Chelsea School of Art, London, UK
1971 Hebrew University High School, Jerusalem, art with Yona Mach

Teaching

1984-92 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem
1992-96 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem,Head of Fine Arts Department,
1992-96 Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Head of Young Artists Program,
2000-03 San Francisco Art Institute, California, USA, Guest Lecturer,
2002 onwards Shenkar College, Ramat Gan, Professor of Art, Multidisciplinary Art Department,

Awards And Prizes

1978 Beatrice Kolliner Prize for a Young Israeli Artist, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
1988 The America-Israel Cultural Fund Scholarship
1991 Jacques and Eugenie Ohana Prize for a Young Israeli Artist, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
1993 The America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Sharett Fund Scholarship for a Young Artist
1998 Prize, Ministry of Education and Culture
2007 The Mendel and Eva Pundik Foundation Prize for an Israeli Artist, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv