Itamar Yehiel (IL, 1984)

Embroidery is a global and ancient craft that has always been used as a platform for storytelling. Women who had no other form of expression brought their cultural and personal stories to the fabrics, using only needle and thread. For a decade I explored different continents and countries and was always fascinated by the local and traditional crafts. As a self-taught artist, I combine thousands of years of embroidery tradition with innovative ideas and techniques, most of which I developed myself. 

With my three-dimensional, philosophical, and emotional interpretations of organic objects, I strive to release this expressive craft from the restraints of the two-dimensional fabric, give it volume, and offer a contemporary voice. My method re-introduces embroidery as fine art and embodies both innovation and tradition. By using carefully thought-out framing and creating an illusion of hovering, I amplify the tension between the traditional craft and my contemporary creations.

In my work, I explore paradoxes and philosophical ideas. The tension between realism and illusion, organic and artificial, temporary and eternal are all part of my artistic expression. Those come to life through objects from nature. Just like embroidery, nature is a global language. It relates to all individuals and cultures, therefore it allows my work to be intricate, profound, accessible, and deeply personal at the same time. I utilize the vast variety of objects, colors, shapes, and textures found in nature as vocabulary to tell new stories, both personal and global, cultural and emotional.