Judith Margolis (born September 24, 1944) is an Israel-based American artist working visually in paintings, drawings, artist's books and multi-media collages. In her art and writing she "explores tensions between consciousness, feminism, and religious ritual tradition".

Early life

Margolis was born into a Jewish family and Yiddish-speaking community in the

Bronx The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

, NY. In 1948 her family moved to suburban

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, from which the adolescent Margolis would adventure to New York City for her early artistic education.

Early artistic training

Margolis began her artistic training during high school at age 15 with a drawing class at The Art Students League, then attended

Cooper Union The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly known as Cooper Union, is a private college on Cooper Square in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-s ...

, where she met her first husband Albie Tabackman. The two traveled across the United States to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, where they lived at Magic Forest Farm in

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

. Margolis also studied at Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, and has an MFA (1986) from the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

Travels

Margolis led an Orthodox Jewish life in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

before leaving the orthodoxy. And for the last 10 years, since leaving Orthodoxy, she has been slowly finding a balance between everything she has gained from her religious life and a retrieval of the freedoms that she believes are important for her art.

Career

Since 1998, Margolis has been the Art Editor of ''Nashim: The Journal of Jewish Women's Studies and Gender Issues'', published by Indiana University Press. She was selected as one of ten international ''Common Ground'' artists. Margolis is Creative Director o
''Bright Idea Books''
which produces limited edition and artist's books. Margolis wrote and illustrated the prayer book ''Life Support; Invitation to Prayer''. In 2015 she was co-curator for the Jerusalem Biennale, presenting the Women of the Book exhibition in which women artists offered their own interpretations of the weekly divisions of the bible.

Education

* MFA from

, 1986 * BA from

Lone Mountain College Lone Mountain College was a private Catholic college acquired by the Jesuit run University of San Francisco (USF) in 1978. History It was built and founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart as Sacred Heart Academy in Menlo Park, Californi ...

, SF, CA 1977 * Two years study at

, NY, 1962–64 * Additional studies

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, NY

Notable works

Life Support: Invitation to Prayer, Penn State University Press (2019) Countdown to Perfection:Meditations on the Sefirot. Limited edition fine art unbound book contained in an individual, linen clad, oyster box. (2009) The Underground Dreams of a Cactus, Limited edition hand painted etching, mono-print cover. (1983)

Family

Judith's second husband, the author David Margolis, died on July 17, 2005. She has three children and six grandchildren.

Exhibitions

One person exhibitions

* Hebrew Union College, New York, New York . 2009 * Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, California . 2008 * University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California . 2003 * Yeshiva University Museum, New York, New York . 2002 * Brandeis Bardin Institute . Simi Valley, California . 2000 * Talpiot Industrial Gallery . Jerusalem . 1994 * ARTernatives Gallery . San Luis Obispo, California . 1989 * University Of Southern California . Los Angeles . 1986 * Buffalo Street Gallery . Ithaca, New York . 1988 * Smedley's Gallery . Ithaca, New York . 1981 * Eisenhower College Gallery . Seneca Falls, New York . 1978 * Ithaca House Gallery . Ithaca, New York . 1978 * Cole/Hayes Gallery . San Francisco . 1977

Two person exhibitions

University of Judaism A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...

(now the

American Jewish University American Jewish University (AJU) is a Private university, private Jewish university in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 2007 from the merger of the University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute. AJU's academic division includes ...

)
Platt Gallery
. Los Angeles . (scheduled) 1999 * Ithaca House Gallery . Ithaca, New York . 1981

Selected group exhibitions

* Women of the Book First Station, Jerusalem, Israel (2015) *Jerusalem Biennial 2015 * “Gathering Sparks,” (2014) Mizel Museum, Denver, CO *“Find Common Ground” (2008) Huan Tie Art Museum, Beijing China *Anlasslich des 125. Geburtstages von Hermann Hesse” (2002) KunstKeller Gallery, Annaberg, German *Florida Atlantic University. Boca Raton, Florida. 2000 * University of Arizona Museum of Art. Tucson, Arizona. 2000 * Kutztown University Gallery. 1999 * Plains Art Museum. Fargo, North Dakota. 1998 * Morris Louis Gallery/Bezelel. Jerusalem. 1998 * B'nai B'rith National Jewish Museum. Washington, District of Columbia . 1997 * Central Exhibition Hall. Moscow. 1996 * Kerim Institute, Jerusalem. 1996 * Kanner Heritage Museum. Toronto, Canada. 1996 * Skirball Cultural Center. Los Angeles. 1996 * Navon Gallery. Neve Ilan, Israel. 1995 * Plotkin Judaica Museum. Phoenix, Arizona. 1995 * The Knesset. Jerusalem. 1994 * Arad Art Museum. Arad, Israel. 1994 * Yeshiva University Museum. NYC. 1993 * Perkins Gallery. Boston. 1993 * Dubin-Wolf Exhibit Center. Los Angeles. 1992 * Loyola University Laband Gallery. Los Angeles. 1991 * UCLA Kirkham Gallery Los Angeles. 1991 *Aishet Chayil (traveled between 1990 and 1998), opened at

Yeshiva University Museum The Yeshiva University Museum is a teaching museum and the cultural arm of Yeshiva University. Along with the American Jewish Historical Society, the American Sephardi Federation, the Leo Baeck Institute, New York, and the YIVO Institute for Jew ...

NYC and closed at Bezalel Gallery, Jerusalem, Israel. * Dubin-Wolf Exhibit Center. Los Angeles. 1989 * The Art Store. Los Angeles. 1987 * University of Wisconsin Fine Art Gallery. Milwaukee. 1987 * Arts Commission Gallery. Los Angeles. 1987 * Otis/Parsons Gallery. Los Angeles. 1984 * Amfac Plaza Gallery. Honolulu. 1984 * Herbert Johnson Museum. Ithaca, New York. 1983 * Columbia-Greene Community College. New York. 1983 * Arnot Art Museum. Elmira, New York. 1983 * Rockefeller Arts Center. Fredonia, New York. 1983 * Schenectedy Museum. New York. 1983 * At Home, Long Beach Museum. California. 1983 * Rutgers University Art Museum. New Brunswick, New Jersey . 1981 * Traction Gallery. Los Angeles. 1981 * Tompkins-Cortland Community College . New York . 1981 * Arnot Museum. Elmira, New York . 1981 * Zone Gallery. Springfield, Massachusetts. 1981 * Womanworks Gallery . Buffalo, New York. 1981 * Ithaca House Gallery . Ithaca, New York. 1981 * Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art. 1979 * Hinckley Foundation Museum . Ithaca, New York. 1979 * AART Gallery. Oakland, California. 1979 * State University of New York Art Gallery. Binghamton. 1978 * Cornell University Art Gallery. Ithaca, New York . 1978 * Lone Mountain College Art Gallery. San Francisco, California. 1977

Collections

New York

* New York Public Library Special Collections * Dr. Al Molvadan * Meredith Tax * Barbara Rochman * Liza Norman * Dr. Phyllis Silverman *

Janet Braun-Reinitz Janet Braun-Reinitz (1938 – 2023) was a muralist, painter and activist committed to social justice. Her ongoing involvement in civil rights activism began in 1961 when she was a Freedom Rider. During one incident in Little Rock, Arkansas, she ...

Seattle

* University of Washington Rare Book Collection

Jerusalem

* Seth Althotz * Dani and Deborah Kollin * Rabbi Daniel Landes and Sheryl Robbin * Timna Katz * LSusan Schneider * Eli and Miriam Avidan * Drs. Jeff and Jane Kimchi * Ephraim and Sigal Tabackman * Rabbi Joel and Donna Zeff

Tel Aviv

* Dan and Penny Witties * Dr. Jim and Diane Breivis * Drs. Cody and Lucy Fisher * Annette and Steve Hess * Sara Katz

San Diego, California

* Noa Summerfield * Jean Diamond Sargent

Los Angeles

* Midway Hospital Medical Center * Hebrew Union College Skirball Museum * UCLA Fine Arts Library * Beverly Hills Fine Arts Library * Uri Harkham * Nancy Berman * Robert J. Avrech * James and Sonya Cummings * Mark Carliner * Michelle Rappaport * Blossom Norman * Dr. Robert and Peggy Sloves * Phillip and Judith Miller * Barbara Schuster * Diane Isaacs Fink * Abby Yasgar and Joey Lipner *

Adam Leipzig Adam Leipzig is the CEO of Entertainment Media Partners, an American film and theatre producer and executive, as well as an author. As a former Disney executive, he supervised films such as Dead Poets Society (1989) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids ...

and Lori Zimmerman * Drs. Suzanne and Moshe Spira * Dr. Deborah Berger * Drs. Donna Cooper-Matchett & Bill Matchett * Lynn and Morton Moskowitz

Moscow

* Artist's House, Chilushskinskaya

Berkeley, California

* UC Berkeley Fine Arts Library

Boca Raton, Florida

* Arthur Jaffe Center for Rare Books

Baltimore

* John and Linda Haas

Ithaca, New York

* Tompkins County Hospital * Fredrika and Bill Kaven * Myra Malkin * Catherine O'Neill * Linda Myers * Sandra Gittleman * Robert and Corinne Stern * Ira and Anne Brous * Moorehead, Mn * Minnesota State University

Faculty appointments, residencies and awards

* Coolidge Colloquium Research Fellowship; 2010 * 18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA; 2008, 2009 * Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, CA; 2008 * Brandeis-Bardein College Institute (LA), Faculty; 1999-00 *International Plein-Air Printmaking Grant, Chelushkinskaya, Russia (1996) *International Plein-Air Printmaking Residency Grant, Fargo ND (1998) * International Plein-Air, Artist-in-Residence; Morehead, MN; 1998 * Brandeis-Bardein College Institute (LA), Faculty; 1997 * Chomut, Christina, TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS, "Space Visions", January 30, 2005 * International Plein-Air, Artist-in-Residence, Moscow; 1996 * Arad Arts Project (Israel), Artist-in-Residence; 1993–94 * Center for Jewish Culture and Creativity, Project Grant; 1993–94 * UCLA Extension, Instructor, Drawing/Painting/Book design; 1990–93 * University of Southern California (LA), Instructor, Painting/Design; 1984–89 * University of Judaism (LA), Instructor Painting/Drawing/Book Design; 1990–91 * Brandeis-Bardein College Institute (LA), Faculty; 1988–90 * Woman's Studio Workshop (NY), Artist-in-Residence/Project grant; 1983 During this residency, Margolis created ''The underground dreams of cactus'', an handmade artit's book in an edition of 20. The book documents a post-modern woman's experience. Sixteen etchings incorporating images and handwritten text explore the perils of living in a body-conscious, sex conscious world. * Cornell Council on the Arts (NY), Project grant; Ithaca, 1983

References

External links

Official web site

''Nashim: The Journal of Jewish Women's Studies and Gender Issues''

''CommonGround2008''

''Bright Idea Books''

"Women of the Book"

"Judith Margolis:The Yatir Collection"

Kalsman Institute on Judaism and Health
{{DEFAULTSORT:Margolis, Judith Feminist artists American contemporary painters American women illustrators American illustrators University of San Francisco alumni Columbia University alumni University of Southern California alumni 20th-century American artists 20th-century American women painters 20th-century American painters 21st-century American artists 21st-century American women painters 21st-century American painters Jewish American artists Israeli artists Israeli women artists Jewish women painters Jewish painters Living people 1944 births 21st-century American Jews