miriam gur-lavi

An Atlanta resident for over 27 years, Miriam Gur-Lavi is a talented artist and business woman.  She was raised in Israel and has lived in Italy and New York City.  Miriam received a degree from F.I.T. in New York, where she worked as a fashion designer on 7^th Avenue.  She also earned a four year degree from The Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy, where she had her first solo exhibition at the Galleria Trianon.  Upon returning to the United Sates, Miriam studied sculpture under George Beasley.  In subsequent years, Miriam has worked on her art, raised a family, and built a successful business.

Miriam’s work ranges from smaller pen & ink, colored pencil, and water color images to large scale gallery quality oil paintings.  Her current work is a reflection of her reaction to terrorism and the devastation that is leaves behind   After 9/11, Miriam was deeply effected by the futile destruction and loss of lives that terrorism breeds.  She feels it is like a cancer that spreads all over the world.  Miriam understands the importance of honoring the souls of our lost loved ones.  In her most recent series, these ideologies have become more and more relevant as countries continue to be at war with one another, and senseless damage is done.

The endless quality of the natural seascapes in Miriam’s work remind us that souls are never lost. They will continue on in the natural world, in the clouds, the sky, the water, the mountains.  The empty chairs symbolize loss, lost people and loved ones, broken families.  Miriam believes that we, as humans, tend to self destruct for what ever reason,  but that earth will prevail.  The sun will still shine, the flowers will bloom, the ocean will ebb and flow.  The smooth, ethereal quality of her brush strokes evoke somber emotions. Dark colors elicit a sadness and fear.  But there is hope, as seen in the bright orange and yellow pigments, creeping their way through the darkness.  You must see Miriam Gur-Lavi’s work in person to understand her story and experience the power of her art.