Born I947 in Fezze, Morrocco. Avi Ben Simhon has been passionate about his art for as long as he can remember. Growing up in a poor family, six-year-old Ben Simhon would find himself drawing on newspapers with charcoals while other kids were playing in the park. One day he decided to bring home one of his masterpieces. Although he was scared of his mother’s reaction due to the dirt of the charcoal, Avi showed his drawing to his mother. Instead of slapping him, his mother burst into tears at the beauty and talent of her son's work. Today Avi Ben Simhon is one of the most famous Israeli artists, represented in over 100 galleries worldwide. Playful and imaginative, Avi Ben-Simhon’s paintings seem to come from another world. The interplay of colors, the extreme textures and joyful subjects are a wonder to behold. His work is the culmination of artistic excellence. Avi has managed to create contemporary masterpieces that evoke a spirit of hope and convey a sense of warmth. The dramatic, powerful images and forceful colors are dominant in his oeuvre and express a joy of life. “The inspiration for my work comes from within me,” he explains. “I am not trying to copy nature – I am copying my imagination.” Ben-Simhon was born in Fez, Morocco in 1947. His family immigrated to Israel upon the establishment of the state of in 1948. The artist grew up in the historic city of Jerusalem. He also served in the Israeli army before joining a group of friends to establish Kibbutz Eyal. Israel was also the location of Ben-Simhon’s extensive art education. In 1986, he studied at the acclaimed Avni Art Institute. In the next following years he immersed himself into the world of contemporary art at the highly acclaimed Kallisher Institute. Ben-Simhon soon became fascinated by the Fauvist and Cubist painters of the 19th Century, particularly by Picasso and Modigliani. Their influences are readily apparent in his paintings. His work is a balance between figurative and abstract, a perfect marriage of beauty and complication. Today, Avi Ben-Simhon has become a highly collectible painter whose works can be found in private and corporate collections around the world. read more