Efrat Zehavi (1974) is a visual and performance artist based in Rotterdam. She is known for the expressive portraits in coloured plasticine that she makes on the spot in public locations. Efrat draws, sculpts, makes collages and writes short stories based on oral histories. She combines her texts and artifacts in installations, performances, animations and books.
Efrat’s sculptures are painterly and narrative. She works with sculptural media like plasticine, clay, papier-mâché, plaster and wax. With these materials she can shape her feelings and thoughts in the most direct and intuitive way, as if making a quick sketch. Efrat’s sincere sculptures derive their power from the unmistakable imprint of her hand. The sculptures depict a wide variety of characters, from recognisable realistic portraits to theatrical masks, deformed bodies, mythological figures, marionettes, and mascot-like objects, but finally all human forms.
Efrat’s work deals with existential issues like origins, family relationships and migration. She often depicts unpleasant or painful feelings, but she always does so with some humor. Her performative projects rely on audience participation, seeking to provoke a dialogue between strangers. In cafés, libraries, studio-like settings or around a table with ritual objects, she guides the conversation to embrace personal subjects like family history and relationships. In this way many universal emotions and feelings are revealed. The people involved can feel connected with each other regardless of their origin, background or religion.
Curriculum Vitae
Efrat Zehavi (1974) lives and works in Rotterdam The Netherland since 2001
Education
2001–2003 Master of Fine Art, Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam / Plymouth University, UK
2000 The School of Visual Theatre, course design for stage, Jerusalem
1995–1999 Bachelor of Fine Art, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, IL, Graduate with Excellence
Collections
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Collectie Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Den Haag, The Netherlands
FENIX, Museum of Migration, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
‘t Verhalenhuis Belvedère, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands
private collections in Israel, The Netherlands, Greece and Germany
Public commissions
2025 De liefde achter missen, a series of new works inspired by stories of Schiedams inhabitants about grief and loss Commissioned by Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam.
2025 Bodybook, a new series of ceramic sculptures. Commissioned by Huis van Het Boek, Den Haag, as part of the group exhibition ‘All the Knowledge of the World’.
2025 Portrait of Freedom, a series of portraits of inhabitants of the city Gorinchem and solo installation in the museum. Commissioned by Gorcums Museum.
2020 – 2024 Where Are We Going, a series of circa one hundred plasticine portraits of inhabitants of Rotterdam, with an accompanying publication. Commissioned by Droom & Daad Foundation. To be exhibited as part of the permanent collection of FENIX Migration Museum, Rotterdam, from 2025.
2023 Bronze bust of Dutch Nobel Prize Winner Guido Imbens, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Eregalerij, The Hague.
2022 Portraits of Katendrecht, a series of plasticine sculptures commissioned for their permanent collection by Verhalenhuis Belvedère, Rotterdam.
2018 The Power Of Love, a mural commissioned by BKOR / CBK Visual Art & Public Space, Rotterdam.
Selected solo projects
2023 Verborgen (Hidden), a five-month work period resulting in a solo presentation and a site-specific installation, Verhalenhuis Belvedère, Rotterdam.
2021 – 2022 Doubt Table, an interactive performance and installation with self-made objects and books, commissioned by Young designers Foundation for their project Ode aan de twijfel (‘ode to doubt’), TENT, Rotterdam and Framer Framed, Amsterdam.
2019 – 2018 mOTHER, a five-month-interactive performance and installation, interviews with museum visitors about their mother resulting in a series of mythological mother sculptures and short stories. Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.
2017 – 2016 Anonymous Glossy, book as artwork disguised as a luxury magazine (edition: 500), launched at TENT, Rotterdam.
2012 – 2016 De Dichtkunstkrant; co-founder and editor-in-chief of the free newspaper for art, poetry and current affairs. Collaboration with writer and immigration lawyer Florimond Wassenaar. The newspaper was distributed at Poetry International (Rotterdam) and in many other locations in the Netherland and Belgium.
2007 – ongoing Passportraits, an interactive performance; live portrait modelling sessions and interviews in public locations, a growing collection of more than 400 plasticine portraits and texts.
Selected Solo and Duo Exhibitions
Upcoming 2026: Duo Art-Rotterdam Gallery VIVID
2025 Narratives in Flux, duo show with David Moroto, Gallery Pedrami, Antwerpen, BE
2024 Demons, Goddesses and Personas, Gallery Pedrami, Antwerpen, BE
2020 Stadsgezicht (City-Scape), Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
2018 Anonymous Glossy animation, De Aanschouw, Rotterdam, NL
2015 I Presume, duo–exhibition with Melanie Bosboom, DAK, Utrecht, NL
2013 Passportraits, Traveling Studio, Haifa City Museum, Haifa, IL
2013 In Between, duo–exhibition with Banafsheh Rahmani, Gallery Hommes, Rotterdam, NL
2012 Duo–exhibition with Marit Dik, Gallery Iris Cornelis, Paviloen–Rotterdam, NL
2011 The Museum of Subjective Science, Sea Foundation, Tilburg, NL
2010 Carte blanche, B93 kunstenaarsinitiatief, Enschede, NL
2009 Art in Times of Uncertainty, De Vishal, Haarlem, NL
2009 Pleader’s Prayer, Onno van Toor Gallery, Art Amsterdam, NL
2007 Crime Scenes, Onno van Toor Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2005 Fireland, curator Birta Gudjonsdottir, Gallerí Dvergi, Reykjavik, IS
2005 Heroes, Rosh Ha-Nikra Gallery, Kibbuts Rosh Ha’nikra, IL
2005 Dreaming.Doc, Nora Gallery, Jerusalem, IL
2004 Leben? Oder Theater? De 5ER Art-Space, Rotterdam, NL
2003 Displeasure City, TENT, Rotterdam, NL
Selected Solo Performances
2023 Passportraits, Gallery Pedrami, Antwerpen, BE
2022 Passportraits, Cultuurhuis Delft, Delft, NL
2018 Passportraits, WORM, Rotterdam, NL
2018 Passportraits, Witteveen visual Art Centre, Art Amsterdam, NL
2014 Fear Factory, Motel Mozaïque, Rotterdam, NL
2014 Passportraits, Lek-Art Festival, Culemburg, NL
2014 Fear Factory, Welcome To the Village art-festival, Leeuwarden, NL
2013 Passportraits, 38 CC, Delft, NL
2013 Passportraits, Kunst te gast art-festival, Zuidhorn, NL
2012 Passportraits, Oerol Festival, Terscheling, NL
2011 Passportraits, Die Grosse, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, DE
2011 Passportraits, Artroute Roombeek-Loneker Enschede
2011 Passportraits, ONGEKEND, Young masters auction, Rotterdam, NL
2009 Passportraits, V.O.R.K Art fair, Rotterdam, NL
2008 Passportraits, Kunstvlaai A.P.I. Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Passportraits, Kunstpunkte, Onomato Kunstverein, Düsseldorf, DE
2008 Passportraits, Between Artist and Subject, American Book Centre, Amsterdam, NL
2007 Passportraits, (part of the exhibition Be(coming)Dutch), Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven, NL
2007 Passportraits, Gil & Moti Homegallery, during Witte de With Festival, Rotterdam, NL
2007 Passportraits, The Virtual Residency Völklingen, Unesco Weltkultuerbe, DE
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 Art Cologne, Gallery VIVID, Cologne, DE
2025 Missen als ronde vorm, Stedelijk museum Schiedam, Schiedam, NL
2025 OverLeven, Gorcums Museum, Gornichem, NL
2024 Me & You, Us & Them, Droog Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
2024 Zie Jezelf! Villa Zebra, Children museum, Rotterdam, NL
2024 Do For Love, Ijsselstein Museum, Ijsselstein, NL
2023 The Anatomy Lesson Revisited, Sint-Amanduskapel, Gent, BE
2023 Where The Wild Roses Grow, Museum Ijsselstein, Ijsselstein, NL
2020 Realism Nu (Realism Now), Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam, NL
2020 About A Womam, Niffo Galerie, Zuid-Explorer, Rotterdam, NL
2019 Hollandse Nieuwe II, new acquisitions, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, NL
2018 Japen! Gallery Drift, Breda, NL
2018 ‘6 voor 6′ in Loods 6, Witteveen visual Art, Amsterdam, NL
2018 First decade, 38 CC, Delft, NL
2018 Waited for the fish corner, Hommes Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2017 Going Back To Forget, TENT, Rotterdam, NL
2015 Shift & Drift, TENT, Rotterdam, NL
2015 Hybrid, Gallery Helder, Den Haag, NL
2015 Gender Blender, MU, Eindhoven, NL
2014 Mens in beweging, culemburg, NL
2014 Shameless M-F, TAC, Eindhoven, NL
2013 Souvenir, 38 CC, The Netherlands
2013 Multiples, Joey Ramone gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2013 L’Homme qui rit, Kadmium, Delft, NL
2013 Dichtkunstkrant, Joey Ramone Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2012 (Dis) Connections – beeldhouwkunst, Gallery Witteveen Amsterdam, NL
2012 Virtual Borders, Saarländische Galerie – Europäisches Kunstforum, Berlin, DE
2012 Harbour Lights, Gallery Lutz, Delft, NL
2011 Iris Cornelis Gallery, Art Rotterdam week, Rotterdam, NL
2010 Portraits of the 21st Century, Gorcums Museum, NL
2010 BRIDGIN’, Hommes Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2010 MetAmorPhosis, Gallery Onno van Toor, Rotterdam, NL
2009 Biennale for Young Artists, Ramat Hasharon, IL
2009 Klankvelden, Pand Paulus, Scheidam NL
2008 Horen, Zien, Zwijgen, Galerie 300 procent, Rotterdam, NL
2008 WEDERZIJDS – kunst in context, Het Kruithuis, Den Bosch, NL
2008 Image, Artots, Den Bosch, NL
2007 Art-store kunstambassade, Pictura, Dordrecht, NL
2006 Terror?, Intersection for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2006 Rotterdam(inter)nationaal, Kunstambassade, Rotterdam, NL
2006 Open Draw, Open Source Art, Champaign, Illinois
2005 Highspot, Gil & Moti Homegallery, Rotterdam, NL
2002 Ramble, Ram Foundation, Rotterdam, IL
2002 Point of view, Galerie des FORUM, Nordersted, DE
2002 Amsterdam Visite, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2002 Ramble, RAM gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2002 Madam, I am Adam, Galerie der Kunstuniversitat, Linz, AUST
2002 Penetration, Bar David Museum, Kibbutz Bar’am, IL
Selected animation screenings
2018 KhKC #67, Animation Screening & artist talk, Tante Nino, Rotterdam, NL
2017 Off Screen, WORM, animation screening, Rotterdam, NL
2013 Tenteren van de nacht, Animation screening, Paradox, Tilburg, NL
2012 Virtual Borders, Feste Dilsberg, DE
2011 Espacio Enter, TEA Espacio de las Artes, Tenerife, ES
2011 Animations screening, Kunstverein Duisburg, DE
2009 The Other Side, animation screening, City hall Herzelia, IL
2009 Noise, Artist house Rishon Le’tsion, IL
Selected Publications
2024 Where Are We Going, publish together with FENIX museum, Rotterdam, NL
2023 The roundness of loss, interview, authur: Hanne Hagenaars, Art Paper Editions, Gent, BE
2022 Weten Wat Je Ziet, authur: Alex de Vries, uitgeverij De Zwaluw, Den Haag, NL
2010 Art Pie, Mario van Baar, Jos Houweling and Prof. Qin Jian, publishers Art Pie foundation, NL
2009 Ander-beeld-anders,
2008 Innerelijke Spiegels, Wederzijds-Kunst in context, Ansgar Editions, Editor: O. Schrover,
exhibition catalogue, NL
2008 Ramat Hasharon Biennale for young artists, Author: Sorin Heller, exhibition catalogue, IL
2008 Virtual residency, Editors: Claudia Brieske, Lesslie Huppert, exhibition catalogue, DE
2008 Wederzijds, Kunst in context, Het Kruithuis, exhibition catalogue, Den Bosch, NL
2005 Dreaming.doc, Carmel publication, illustrations for the book of Lea Zehavi, Jerusalem, IL
2005 Memory, Experience and Re-enactment, Piet Zwart Institute and Revolver Books,
Editors: Anke Bangma, Steve Ruhston, (p. 192-197) NL
2002 Madam, I am Adam/ The organization of private life, Publisher: Piet Zwart Institute and
der kunstuniversitat, Linz, AUT, 2002
2002 Penetration, Bar David museum, Curator: Adi Ben-Horin IL 2002 (exhibiton catalogue)
Selected Reviews (magazines, newspapers and TV)
2026 BinnensteBuiten TV, interview with Suzanne Swarts, KRO NCRV TV, 24 feb 2026
2025 NRC, Cultuur supplement, Heimwee en herontdekking, 18 December 2025, by Merlijn Schoonenboom
2025 Alle Richtingen (All Directions) Highlight uit de collectie, catalogus FENIX publications
2025 NRC, Cultuur & Media, October 15, 2025, by Sandra Smets
2025 Trouw, Kunst over rouw die aangrijpend en zelfs grappig is, Cultuur and Media, 8 October 2025, by joke de Wolf
2025 Nooit meer slapen, radio interview with Femke van der Laan, VPRO, 16 mei 2025
2025 Trouw, de verdieping, Museum Fenix maakt elk mens tot migrant, by joke de Wolf en Somajeh Ghaeminia 16 mei 2025
2025 Kunstschrift, april-mei 2025, Altijd onderweg, n2 69 jaargang, by Mariette Haveman
2025 Volkskrant, Op Dwaal tocht, 16 mei 2025, over FENIX art museum about migration, by Michiel Kruijt en Anna van Leeuwen
2025 NRC, Tips beeldende kunst, 4 september 2025, by Toef Jaeger
2024 AD Rotterdam, Rotterdammers, 16 oktober 2024, by Marcel Wijnstekers
2020 De ander boetseren. Trauma en compassie in beeld, interview, tekst: Manja Pauka, Benjamin
2020 Kunstenaar – kunst – verzamelaar, Interview, RAM foundation, Tekst: Piet de Jonge.
2020 Nu te Zien! NPO2, interviee, TV Dutch art-programe
2019 Levensverhalen in klei, Pandora magazine Nr. 6, tekst: Ruud Vermeer
2019 Laatste Kans! Tekst: Juul van Stokkom, De Volkskrant
2019 De geest neemt bezit van de materie, Alex de Vries, Mister Motley Magazine
2018 Ze vertellen veel als ik ze aan het kleien ben. text: Arie Westeneng, AD Rotterdam
2018 Een levensverhaal achter elk gezicht, over Efrat Zehavi, Rotterdam Late Night, Wilma Sütö
2018 Schie TV, kunst & cultuur, interview, 20 October
2017 Anonymous Glossy: Five Observations, book Launch TENT, text: Nat Muller,
2017 Monumentjes voor onbekende Rotterdammers. Caspar Naber, NRC 3 November 2017
2018 Top Stuk!, Quest Magazine, tekst: Ellemiek de Wit
2012 Beelden Magazine, issue no.60, text: Sya van ‘t vlie
2011 De Nieuwe, Rusteloos, mei 2011 jaargang 15, text: Robert Broekhuis
2010 What’s Up Art-Magazine, Issue 6, editors: Onno van Toor, Karmin Kartwikromo
2009 Hele families portretteren is mijn droom, interview, text: Inekke Suidman, Keramiek Magazine
2009 Klassieke Raadgeving – de verhalende werken van efrat zehavi, KM Magazine, text: harald scholle
2009 Ander, Beeld, Anders, Editor Oscar Schrover, Ansgar Editions
2009 What’s Up Art-Magazine, Issue 3, editors: Onno van Toor, Karmin Kartwikromo
2009 A visual Wonderland by Athena Newton, ArtSlant, online review on Art-Amsterdam
2008 NIW Nieuw Israelitisch weekblad 5, text: Daphne Meijer 7 nov 2008
2007 TAGEBLATT – Zeitung fir Lëtzebuerg, Author: Patrik H. Feltes, Nr. 129 5 June 2007
2007 Saarbrucker Zeitung, Author: Silvia Buss Nr. 124 Mittwoch, 30 Mai 2007
2007 A5 Magazine, Beginning, Issue 1, January 2007 Tel-Aviv IL
2006 Medium Magazine, Internet magazine, publisher: Cansfield creative group, UK
2005 Morgunbladid, 29 January 2005, Reykjavik, IS
2002 Norderstedter Zeitung Nr.205 03.09.2002 Stadt Norderstedt Author: Heike Linde-Lembke DE
2010 KETEL.TV Rotterdam TV Portretteketête – Efrat Zehavi 12 April 2010 http://ketel.tv/ – KETEL.TV
2009 Rotterdam TV 14 Juli 2009 reportage Klankvelden Pand Paulus http://ketel.tv/
2007 TV – Rotterdam Rijnmond, promo sir 1 September 2007 – TV- Mittschnitte SR-Fernsehen,
Kulturspiegel 30.05.07 Author: Harriet Weber- Schafer
Residencies
2013 Puppets in Prague, puppets for animation, Prague, Czech Republic
2009 ID11, in collaboration with dancer Ans Kanen, Delft, NL
2008 The first Open Art Residency, Eretria, Greece
2007 EKWC, The European Ceramic Centre, Den Bosch, NL
Grants
2016 O & O, Research & Development subsidy, Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam, NL
2013 Kunstenisrael, project subsidy, Amsterdam, NL
2011 O & O, Research & Development subsidy, Centrum Beeldende Kunst Rotterdam, NL
2003 KAS Bank, study stipend
Text and image copyright © Efrat Zehavi 2026