Mally Elbaz Almandine

Mally Elbaz Almandine
Born (1955-07-05) July 5, 1955
Afula, Israel
EducationOhalo College and Oranim College of Education
MovementContemporary art
Websitewww.almandineart.com

Mally Elbaz Almandine (born 5 July 1955) is an Israeli visual artist, educator, and author. She works mainly in painting and mixed-media art. Her work draws on personal memories, the landscape of northern Israel, and traditional Yemenite decorative patterns.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Elbaz Almandine was born in Afula, Israel, to a family of Yemenite Jewish background.[1][3] She studied art and education at Ohalo College and Oranim College of Education, earning a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in education and art. She later completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) in education and art through an international program with the University of Latvia.[3]

Career

Elbaz Almandine worked as an art teacher and pedagogical supervisor in early childhood art education for the Israeli Ministry of Education in the northern district.[3] During her career in education, she established an art activity center in Tiberias and operated an independent puppet theater.[3]

In her visual art practice, Elbaz Almandine constructs layered compositions using acrylics, oils, and structural mark-making. Her artistic approach combines traditional Yemenite decorative motifs with contemporary abstract structures.[1][2] A recurring visual symbol in her work is the almandine a deep red garnet gemstone that she has associated with her surname and artistic identity.[3]

In an analytical essay published in the literary journal מראה (Mar'eh), art historian Nurit Cederboum compared Elbaz Almandine's dense, patterned surfaces to the ornamental compositions of modern artists such as Gustav Klimt and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, describing her usage of ornament as visual poetry.[2]

In 2017, Elbaz Almandine was included among the artists featured in the Art Market Magazine special edition "Gold List – Top Contemporary Artists of Today", which highlighted selected contemporary artists from various countries.[4]

Her 2020 solo exhibition, Rikmat Chayim, held at Beit HaOmanim (Artists' House) in Tel Aviv, was reviewed in Israel Hayom. Cultural critic David Perber highlighted her use of vibrant color fields and intricate detailing to address themes of geographical periphery, identity, and personal history in Israeli society.[1]

Exhibitions

Elbaz Almandine has participated in solo and group exhibitions in Israel:

  • Beit HaOmanim (Tel Aviv, 2020): Solo exhibition, Rikmat Chayim (Living Embroidery).[1]
  • Beit Gabriel (Jordan Valley, 2013): Group exhibition, Maba Nashii (Feminine Expression).[5]

Publications

  • Ze Ba MiBifnim. Bat-Or Publishing, 2020. ISBN 978-965-7747-19-3[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "המזרח הקרוב" [The Near East]. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). 12 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "תמונה היא שיר ללא מילים – זיכרונות ארוזים בחרוזי צבע ביצירתה של מלי אלבז אלמנדין" [A picture is a poem without words – Memories packed in color beads in the work of Mally Elbaz Almandine]. מראה (Mar'eh) (in Hebrew) (9). Ariel University. September 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mally Elbaz Almandine". Art Market Magazine. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "GOLD LIST Award artists. Special Edition #1". Art Market Magazine. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "תערוכות > מבע נשי" [Exhibitions > Feminine Expression]. ArtBeat (in Hebrew). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "זה בא מבפנים" [It Comes From Within]. Bat-Or Publishing (in Hebrew). Retrieved 17 August 2026.