Lapidot, born in Brooklyn in 1938 immgrated to Israel in 1979.
She recently received a certificate in advanced doctorate studies in art history from the University in Mallorca, Spain. Her work appears in collections in Europe, America and Israel, as well as drawings in the Israel Museum in Jeruslam.
Ellen Lapidus
New Oil PaintingsIsraeli Art, 20.10-16.11.07
In this current show, Ellen Lapidus exhibits works created during the past year. Five years ago Ellen set up permanent residence in Jerusalem. Here, in front of the bare Judean hilly landscape seen from the window, she draws inspiration. She transports her impression of the view to the canvas by means of shimmering fluid color and flowing curvy lines. However, the subject that fascinates and obsesses her, is the human being. In self-portraits she expresses the stormy soul. In the family portraits, she develops her experience as a mother and grandmother. Lapidot was born in Brooklyn in l938. She began her art studies as a teen-ager. Her first teachers were "action" painters, belonging to that movement that broke the boundaries of traditional painting. Her early training can be seen in her painting to this day. Ellen enrolled in Bennington College, received her degree from Brandeis University and left for Paris. There she lived and painted for four years. She befriended artists in Paris and frequented the great museums and galleries of Europe, while deeply absorbing a great amount of knowledge. When she returned to America she was awarded a fellowship and completed her M.F.A. She taught studio and art history at Pratt and other colleges, continued painting in and expressive style and exhibited her work. In 1970 (after the student protests) she moved to Spain. She divided her time between Spain and America. Traveling a lot, Ellen was especially influenced by the Moroccan landscape. There rediscovering her Judaism.
In 1979 she made aliyah, fell in love with the Negev landscape and went to live in Mitzpe Ramon. She painted the desert and showed her work. In 1996 Ellen began to divide her time between Mallorca and Israel. At the University in Mallorca she studied for the doctorate. She then, returned to Israel and moved to Jerusalem. Ellen Lapidus' paintings are tempestuous and colorful. The figures are powerful. The lines flow, the brush strokes are decisive. Deep emotions underlie the line and the color. Sometimes the shapes seem to merge tumultuously through line and runny color. In the birth paintings the nude, the pain, the flesh and blood move together by the power of the screaming brush stroke, identifying with the moment depicted.
Ellen Lapidus is a prolific painter. Her painting is like a melody that plays in her head, creating virtuoso variations in different harmonies, colors, shapes and changing drawing tempos. Lapidus works are in many collections.
She has held exhibitions in the U.S., Spain, and in Israel Mishkan LeOmanut Ein Harod, Safrai Gallery, and more.
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