Calman Shemi Paintings
Argentinian, b. 1939
Calman Shemi was born in Argentina in 1939. He studied sculpture and ceramics at the School of Mendoza in Argentina. In 1961, Shemi emigrated to Israel, and in 1963 he began studying sculpture with Rudi Lehman. He created his first "soft" paintings in 1977. Since 1978, he has worked primarily in serigraphy and acrylic paintings. In 1999, Shemi developed the "windows" and the "lacquer" painting techniques. The "window" or "shadow box" painting is a unique form of artistic expression. First Shemi creates a painting in a wooden box. After completion of the painting, he affixes a customized wooden frame to the box. This unusual technique results in the illusion of looking through a window to the landscape or into a room. The frame is then covered with silver or gold leaf and finally lacquered. The final result is a piece of art that emphasizes the contrast between the outside level and the painting within a deeper level.
Lacquer paintings are also one of Shemi's original creations. These works usually begin as an exciting abstract design or still-life painted on wood or on a metal panel that has been covered in layers of gold and/or silver leaf. After the paint has dried, the painting is gilded with many layers of lacquer. Between each layer of lacquer the surface is hand polished to give it a metallic finish, resulting in a luminous effect.
Remarkably, artist Shemi has had 71 one-man shows all around the world, including Israel, France, Singapore, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Canada, Spain Germany, the United States and elsewhere. His works are displayed in the Spertus Museum of Judaica, the Fashion Institute of Chicago, Citibank in New York, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, just to name a few.to
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Artist: Calman Shemi
Unique Modernist Israeli Still Life Monoprint Painting Calman Shemi Vase Flowers
By Calman Shemi
Located in Surfside, FL
Fruit and Flowers monoprint by Calman Shemi
Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939. A graduate of the School of Sculpture and Ceramics in Mendoza, he studied under the Italian-Argentinean sculptor Libero Badii whom he credits with putting him on the right path. “He taught me principals, not only related to sculpture, but human and philosophic principals. Shemi also carefully studied the work of such masters as Pablo Picasso, Caravaggio, Frank Stella and Henri Matisse. “From each one of these great artists I learned something from observing them,” he says.
In 1961, at the age of 20, Shemi immigrated to Israel and joined Kibbutz Carmia of which he was a member for twenty years. There he worked in agriculture and also as a sculptor working with wood and clay. Several of his large-scale fiberglass and polyester sculpture projects are situated in public buildings. He was a student of German-Israeli sculptor Rudi Lehmann, a pioneer of the artistic movement known as “Canaanism.”
Canaanite art was an effort to create a direct relationship with the land, bypassing historic Jewish connotations—hence the land’s primordial name is used. Canaanite works, with an emphasis on the inter-action of simple shapes, bear a deliberate resemblance to the sculpture and ritual art of early civilizations of the Middle East prior to Judaism, always with an eye to the fusion of man and the land itself.
Though sculpture dominated his early years as an artist, in the mid ’70s Shemi developed the idea of the “soft painting” medium. Beginning with a color drawing done to scale, Shemi layers onto the drawing irregularly shaped pieces of variously textured and colored fabrics. Using a threadless 9,000-needle sewing machine, the fabrics are meshed to one another and to the background, resulting in vibrant wool tapestry carpet compositions infused with exuberant color and explosive movement.
Over the years, Shemi has continued to challenge himself with new artistic mediums, developing two more techniques of painting: “Lacquer paintings” and “window paintings.” He also works in monotype, lithograph and silkscreen techniques. He creates his Lacquer Painting by applying vibrant colors to wood or metal panel that has been gilded with gold or silver leaf, and sometimes both. After the oil paint has thoroughly dried, many layers of lacquer are applied to the surface giving it a glowing effect. Between each layer of lacquer the piece is hand-polished to give the surface its very shiny look.
Shemi’s “lacquer” and “window” paintings are reminiscent of ancient techniques used centuries ago in Japan and China.
Shemi concludes, “All of the art that I create is full of optimism and beauty. That’s all. Simple, very simple.”
During the past eighteen years Shemi has held more than seventy one-man shows in the U.S., Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Israel. His works can be seen in many public and private collections around the world. He is of a generation of contemporary Israeli artists, somewhat influenced by pop art that include Alex Pauker...
Category
20th Century Abstract Expressionist Calman Shemi Paintings
Materials
Monoprint
Large Original Abstract Colorful Oil Painting Israeli Kibbutz Landscape Shemi
By Calman Shemi
Located in Surfside, FL
Life in Nature
Canvas measures 31.5 X 39.5
(I believe this is oil it might also be acrylic.)
Hand signed recto and signed and titled verso.
Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was ...
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1980s Abstract Geometric Calman Shemi Paintings
Materials
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By Calman Shemi
Located in Winter Park, FL
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Category
Late 19th Century Calman Shemi Paintings
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Windows With Flowers Still Life Painting
By Calman Shemi
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Windows With Flowers Still Life Painting
Artist signed lower left, 16" x 18" with frame 26"h x 28"w
Calman Shemi was born in Argentina in 1939. He studied sculpture and ceramics at t...
Category
1980s Calman Shemi Paintings
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Gold
Large Israeli Colorful Metal Wall Sculpture Painting Circus Scene Calman Shemi
By Calman Shemi
Located in Surfside, FL
Calman Shemi (1939-)
Laser cut metal wall sculpture 3D
Titled "Circus"
Signed on the front lower left edge, and signed, numbered, and titled verso.
Marked, Jerusalem
Limited edition,...
Category
1990s Contemporary Calman Shemi Paintings
Materials
Metal
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Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939. A graduate of the School of Sculpture and Ceramics in Mendoza, he studied under the Italian-Argentinean sculptor Libero Badii whom he credits with putting him on the right path. “He taught me principals, not only related to sculpture, but human and philosophic principals. Shemi also carefully studied the work of such masters as Picasso, Caravaggio, Frank Stella and Matisse. “From each one of these great artists I learned something from observing them,” he says.
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Canaanite art was an effort to create a direct relationship with the land, bypassing historic Jewish connotations—hence the land’s primordial name is used. Canaanite works, with an emphasis on the inter-action of simple shapes, bear a deliberate resemblance to the sculpture and ritual art of early civilizations of the Middle East prior to Judaism, always with an eye to the fusion of man and the land itself.
Though sculpture dominated his early years as an artist, in the mid ’70s Shemi developed the idea of the “soft painting” medium. Beginning with a color drawing done to scale, Shemi layers onto the drawing irregularly shaped pieces of variously textured and colored fabrics. Using a threadless 9,000-needle sewing machine, the fabrics are meshed to one another and to the background, resulting in vibrant carpet tapestry compositions infused with exuberant color and explosive movement. These are neither aubusson nor pile but more of a felt wall hanging...
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Calman Shemi paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Calman Shemi paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Calman Shemi in paint, canvas, fabric and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Calman Shemi paintings, so small editions measuring 36 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Luciana Levinton, Miriam Peralta , and Cecilia Biagini. Calman Shemi paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,200 and tops out at $5,000, while the average work can sell for $4,100.