The passionate philanthropist and mix-media artist, speaks about her colourful and emotional artworks which aims to inspire generations to live more purposely and positively in a rapidly changing digital age. According to Forbes Magazine, the Wertheimer's are ranked Israel's second wealthiest families and 265th globally, with an estimated fortune of $5.6bn
“I want to inspire people to be free, let loose of conception and live a happy harmonious life”
- Ariela Wertheimer
Ariela Wertheimer is a multidisciplinary artist based in Israel with over 20 years experience drawing and photographing. In 2013, Ariela moved from the quiet suburb of Caesarea to the bustling city of Tel Aviv. The city invigorated her with the energy to create, photograph and paint at an urban rhythm. Fences, construction metals, faces, personal stories of people and neon lights created together a combination of urban art, a type of pop art, which is young and fresh.
In 2015, Ariela opened her studio on Kibbutz Galuyot Street in the industrial part of Tel Aviv and in 2016 she opened an exclusive exhibition at the Farkash Gallery called “The Freedom to Let Go” displaying a collections called LightBoxes. Today, Ariela exhibit at Vienna Biennale Venice at Palazzo Mora hosted by the European Cultural Center, an exhibition that will travel to the Far East later on this year.
Ariela’s works include a wide range of techniques whilst constantly looking for new materials and techniques including new surfaces to work on, photography, lighting and acrylic colors mixed with a variety of materials and printing on canvas. Her works are an optic experience of a visual system that gives onlookers the opportunity to analyze themselves and reflect how these creations touch their own personal lives and ideally as Ariela says” take positive actions and be free”.
The Light Boxes is a combination of metal, lighting, photographs, painting and print on plexiglass created a series of works and portraits of spectacular people in light boxes.
ARIELA SAID: “When I came to live in Tel Aviv the city struck me with its creativity, pace and pluralism which combine Tel Aviv’s past, together with a kicking updated present. Between serenity and a storm, amongst the bustling streets and quiet hidden back alleys, I discovered a new beautiful world. I was creatively paralyzed and forsook my brushes and since I didn’t know Tel Aviv I wandered in the city as a treasure hunter. I felt the need to provide a platform and specifically a platform for our vulnerability – because that is where we have room to grow and the vulnerability becomes a strengthening and building aspect of our foundations. We as human beings have the right and reason to decide how to deal with obstacles. Will we develop and grow or stay in the same place? This illustrate importance to understand that we have the power to allow ourselves to make a change in our lives.”
The Rope Series is a combined technique of photographs of ropes and fish nets at Jaffa Port. Printed on canvas with acrylic paint. The ropes and ties in Ariela’s cultivated works also occupy her conceptually: the rope as a sign of the umbilical cord or alternatively a rope on which to hang oneself. The relationships of the rough ropes give symbolic significance to the human relations between a man or woman or any other relationship. The processed photographs of the ropes radiate power, it is very difficult to detach them but they also have beauty, unity and hope. The grand dimensions of the works give them a presence and cast out the photographed subjects from their familiar everyday context. Momentarily, one loses touch with reality and is sucked into a spiritual, metaphysical world.
The Chandelier represent relationships she says: “Patience and mutual respect, friendship and partnership are all needed. The passing of time takes its toll on each of us and on the relationship, so that it is crucial to remember that nothing should ever be taken for granted.”
Ariela is married to Eitan Wertheimer and mother to 5 children Assaf, Sivan, Maya, Daniel and Guy. Simultaneously Ariela is a philanthropist and has volunteered for the past 14 years in the oncology department at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa. She also also recently donated 10 artworks to the hospital, and 50% of every sale is join to charity.
The pieces sell between $5,000 to $7,000 with the larger pieces POA.
For more information, please visit: www.arielawr.com
Visit The Farkash Gallery for vintage Jewish/Israeli posters and fine art: