Shai Azoulay was born in 1971 in Kiryat Shmona, Israel, and lives and works in Jerusalem. Azoulay is a painter known for his narrative-rich compositions that blend figuration, symbolism, and emotional nuance. His work is deeply informed by Jewish mysticism, personal introspection, and storytelling, often reflecting what he describes as “two identities”—a duality that connects him to both tradition and contemporary life.

After completing his military service, Azoulay traveled across Asia, where he discovered his passion for painting. He earned his BFA in 2000 and MFA in 2007 from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. Since 2010, he has taught in Bezalel’s Department of External Studies and its Haredi program, contributing to the development of contemporary Israeli art education.

Azoulay’s artistic practice underwent a pivotal shift in 2006, when he returned to painting with renewed intensity and personal conviction. His works often feature clusters of characters, surreal juxtapositions, and vibrant palettes that oscillate between drawing and painting, creating a dynamic tension between the whimsical and the profound.

Notable Exhibitions:

2011 – Superpartners, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv

2013 – Good Eye, ARATANIURANO Gallery, Tokyo

2014 – Guided Imagery, Inga Gallery of Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv

2016 – Shortcuts, Meislin Projects, New York

2018 – A Dwelling Down Below, Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art

2019 – Kitzur Schulchan Aruch, Inga Gallery of Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv

2023 – Me & Us, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago


Selected Group Exhibitions:

2011 – Watercolour, Tate Britain, London

2014 – Abstract Drawing, Drawing Room, London

2019 – The Aerodrome, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

2020 – Scenes from Family Life, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv

2023 – The Artist’s Choice, Inga Gallery, Tel Aviv

Collections:

Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Ashdod Museum of Art

Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University

Salsali Private Museum, Dubai

Taguchi Art Collection, Japan

Bank Hapoalim Art Collection

Bank Leumi Art Collection

Israel Discount Bank Art Collection


Awards:

2007 – Morasha Foundation Prize, Tel Aviv Museum of Art

2007 – Osnat Mozes Prize for Young Artists, Jerusalem Artists’ House

2008–2010 – Artist-Teacher Prize, Ministry of Culture

2018 – Encouragement of Creativity Prize, Ministry of Culture

2020 – Landau Prize for Arts and Sciences, Israeli Lottery