Yosl Bergner

Yosl Bergner (1920–2017), born in Vienna and raised in a culturally rich household, became one of Israel’s most revered painters. After studying at the Melbourne Academy of the Arts, he immigrated to Israel in 1950, where his home in Tel Aviv became a hub for writers, poets, and intellectuals. Bergner’s art fused melancholy and joy, often drawing on exilic motifs that came to reflect the evolving Israeli identity. Known for his expressive use of color and recurring symbols like anthropomorphized kitchen utensils, his work spanned painting, illustration, and stage design. Awarded the Israel Prize for Arts in 1980, Bergner remains celebrated as a defining voice in Israeli art and culture.