In her new solo exhibition “The Power of Love” at Naaman Towers in Tel Aviv, Israeli artist Sharon Gershman presents two series. The first is an abstract series of dynamic and free compositions. The second features digital collages on aluminum.
Gershman grew up in a home filled with art. Her father, a painter and graphic artist, introduced her to the world of art at a young age. “The artist who influenced me the most was Lea Nikel,” says Gershman, referring to the prominent Israeli abstract artist (1918-2005). “I was drawn to the freedom and liberation she expressed in her paintings. The totality of her intuitive expression was a huge inspiration for me.”
Gershman remains true to her art, expressing the depths of her heart and subconscious through color, shape, line, and texture, in a universal language that transcends words – the language of art. Her paintings convey a powerful emotional and spiritual experience to the viewer. “When I began creating, colors and canvas were tools to express my emotions, even before I had the words to describe them. What started as a tool for self-expression became my primary way of communicating with the world and my desire to influence it. The exhibition reflects the journey I’ve undergone in the past year—peeling back layers to connect with my own authenticity. The works in the exhibition mirror my truth... There’s pain, love, violence, beauty, humor, and above all, a woman breaking free and raising her voice. Here I am, without any masks,” she says.
Like the cycles of life
Gershman’s works are likened to the cycles of life – a dizzying whirl of color, storm, and calm; fireworks on one side and a peaceful safe harbor on the other. An intriguing spectrum of emotions blurs into captivating colors, drawing the viewer into a mysterious tunnel where reality will appear in a different light by the end.
“Some of the pieces were created as a result of experiences that influenced me, while others are the result of the development from what I’ve gone through. When I paint on canvas, I pour my soul onto the fabric, telling the story intuitively through acrylic, oil pastels, charcoal, pencils, and a lot of movement.
“In my digital collages, I play between the abstract and the tangible. The internal experience matures, and once it is processed I express it in a more ‘defined’ way, combined with abstract and colorful elements. The transition from the abstract world to a more defined one reflects the attempt to give form to deep experiences that meet me in my daily life,” she says.
The current exhibition showcases a mosaic of Gershman’s inspirations, drawn from life’s experiences – relationships, music, dreams, spirituality, and deep emotional processes. Everything that awakens her from within finds expression in color and movement.■
The writer is an art consultant for Sharon Gershman’s solo exhibition at Naaman Towers in Tel Aviv.
