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Artist & Creator

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Akiva Wasserman

Akiva was born in 1941 in kibbutz Mishmar Ha’Yam, in the bay of Haifa. His parents were emigrants from East Europe to Palestine, amongst the pioneers who established the kibbutz. Akiva is the first son to his father, a carpenter, and his mother, a seamstress. Upon completing his high school, Akiva joined the Israeli Defence Force and served in the armoured forces. Following his army service, Akiva travelled as a backpacker in Europe for a year.

In 1962 Akiva returned to the kibbutz, that by then changed its name to Afek. Akiva worked as the cow shed manager. At that time Akiva was also in charge of the cultural activities and was a youth leader and educator. From this point on Akiva combined education with arts and travels as three main areas of interest that remain constant in his life.

In 1963 Akiva left the kibbutz to study graphic design at the high academy of arts, Betzalel, Jerusalem. He studied under Marcel Janco (1895-1984) and Yehuda Bacon amongst other famed artist of the era. In order to fund his study Akiva worked as a youth leader in Carmit, a boarding school for vocational education in Ain Karem.

In 1968 Akiva married Nurit (née: Feil) and moved to the rural settlement of Mishmar Hashivah. He opened an office in Tel-Aviv for the design of books, exhibitions and professional catalogues.

In 1979 Akiva and Nurit moved to the Artist Quarter of the old city of Zafed with their three children. In Zafed Akiva opened an adult learning evening school that offered certification in drawing. The time in Zafed served Akiva as formal educator and in creating prolific social connections in the fields of informal education (youth movements, youth recreation centres etc.)

In 1989 Akiva was chosen by The JOINT (The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) and the European Jewish Association to assist in the restoration of Jewish communities. He dedicated his time to working with the Marranos of Belmonte in Portugal and the revival of their Jewish life. This theme also featured in his paintings, which led to a much celebrated exhibition that was held in Belmonte. This period also led Akiva to move to Paris for four years.

In Paris Akiva not only exhibited in La Mare, the Jewish quarter, but also set up the first Israeli scouts centre and managed it for three years.

In 1993, Akiva and his family returned to live in Israel this time in Jerusalem. Akiva returned to painting and also exhibited overseas

In 2000 Akiva and Nurit left to Paris for the second time. While in Paris, Akiva sourced recycled wood and canvases for his painting, using oil, pastel, and watercolours. The idea of recycling and upcycling existing materials from the local environment is at the heart of his art to this date.

In 2005 Akiva returned to Israel and settled in Kiryat Tivon. Akiva began lecturing about the history of Israel since the British Mandate. He extended his collection of toys from that era to other places around the world and more current times.

In 2016 Akiva and Nurit took nearly two years to travel around the world. This extensive travel period resulted in the self-published the book “Journey in Sandals” in 2021. The book is a collection of Akiva’s sketches and paintings from places they visited along with letters that he had written to family and friends.

To date (2023) Akiva is a prolific painter. He can be found in his home workshop using ready-made materials as the basis for his creativity. His sculptures and painting styles still shift between realism and abstract, and incorporate his sense of humour and love of story telling and travels.