Calman Shemi Art

Colorful pastel abstract contemporary metal sculpture by Argentinian artist, Calman Shemi. This piece titled "Head of a Woman," resembles a form of a bust, a face silhouette in side view, and a headpiece. The piece features several fun patterns, lines, and shapes that complement the pastel colors around the sculpture. Signed by the artist on the base of the sculpture. Artist Biography: Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939. A graduate of the School of Sculpture and Ceramics in Mendoza, he studied with the Italian-Argentine sculptor Libero Badii and the German-Israeli sculptor Rudi Lehman. In 1961, he settled in Israel and joined Kibbutz Carmia where he was a member for twenty years. There he worked in agriculture and also as a sculptor, working in wood and clay. Shemi has acknowledged many influences in his art and his life; the dramatic colors of his childhood in Argentina, the sun-baked landscape of his home in Israel, the sensuous colorism of Matisse, the philosophies of his art teachers, and even the ritualistic symbols of the ancient past. His working method, which relies on the assistance of skilled artisans to execute much of the technical part of producing his works, affirms Shemi's strong commitment to the communal ethic rooted in his experience on the Kibbutz. In 1977, Shemi's work became an international symbol of peace when Israel's President Katzir presented a Shemi painting to the late President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Sculpture dominated his early years as an artist. In 1977, while living in the Kibbutz he developed the idea of the "soft painting" medium. In his "soft paintings", he begins with a color drawing done to scale. He then layers irregularly shaped pieces of variously textured and colored fabrics resulting in vibrant compositions infused with exuberant color and explosive movement. In recent years, Shemi has worked intensively with wall sculptures made of painted laser-cut steel, his new field of expression. Over the last fifteen years, he has held more than seventy one-man-shows in the USA, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Israel including an exhibition at Saper Galleries in 1991. Several of Shemi's large-scale fiberglass and polyester projects are situated in various public buildings throughout the world. Calman Shemi also created 1,200 prints for cabins of the "Sensation", a Carnival Cruises oceanliner, large-scale paintings for the liner's suites and the public places. Shemi has also created paintings and sculptures for two other Carnival Cruise Lines: the "Elevation" and the "Paradise". Permanent collections - The Spertus Museum of Judaica - The Chicago Fashion Institute - King David Hotel...

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 Li...

this is a bright vibrant abstract wall hanging tapestry by Calman Shemi. I believe the material is wool with a linen backing but i am not positive. it can also be used as a floor rug. "Garden Insect #7" 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. 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 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 carpet...

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 Li...

Artist proof, signed abstract form metal sculpture painted with vibrant colors. Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939. A gr...

this is a bright vibrant abstract wall hanging tapestry by Calman Shemi. I believe the material is wool with a linen backing but i am not positive. it can also be used as a floor rug...