Anat Zehavi - I paint because I can't sing

From street find to international breakthrough

That choice changed everything. The first figures she created were feminine, playful and daring. Her first work in this new style was called 2020: a defeated Superman, slumped in his chair. Funny at first glance, but deeply sad at heart. That work marked the beginning of a new chapter in Zehavi's artistic career.

What started as an experiment grew into a worldwide success. Through social media, she discovered that her wood paintings touched people in unexpected ways. Demand for her work grew so rapidly that she had to start a company and an online shop. There she now sells wood prints and original works.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth, Zehavi suddenly gained international attention. Orders poured in from all corners of the world, and I now occasionally sell signed editions through art auctions. It is a vibrant, surprising and constantly changing art market.

Art with a political and personal layer

Her work is often socially and politically charged, influenced by her connection to Israel. She cannot simply create something decorative. Every painting must contain a message or a nod to something.

After 7 October, older works such as Reality Check with Anne Frank and Oi va Avoi with Golda Meir suddenly took on new meaning. They became relevant again and were sold in 2023 during a special art project in Tel Aviv. From that moment on, she knew there was no turning back. My art must say something, provoke or touch people, even if it is uncomfortable.