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Naftali Bezem, Israeli, born Germany, 1924-2018.

Naftali Bezem was born in Essen, Germany, in 1924, to a family of immigrants from Poland. In 1938 the family was exiled to Zbąszyń, near the border with Poland. In 1939 he was brought to the Land of Israel under the auspices of Aliyat Hanoar (Youth Aliyah), but his parents perished in Auschwitz. From 1943-1946 he studied art in the “New Bezalel.” From 1949 to 1951 he lived in Paris, where he studied at a community school of religious art. In 1995 he lived in Paris, and in 1997 he emigrated to Basel, Switzerland. Bezem’s early works, from the 1950s, has been identified with “Socialist Realism,” which is characterized by a realistic style and by a choice of socio-political themes.

Education

1943–46 Bezalel Academy of Art, Jerusalem with Mordecai Ardon
1949–51 Center for Religious Arts, Paris, France

Teaching

1946–47 New Bezalel School for Arts and Crafts, Jersuaelm
1947 Refugee camp, Cyprus

Awards And Prizes

1957 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
1959 Prize, Painters and Sculptors Exhibition, Graduates of Youth Aliyah
1975 First Prize, The "Sea" Exhibition, Haifa Municipality