New Exhibition "Stone Weavings" by the Students of the "Birger Designs" Mosaic Studio, will take place at Gallery "Al Ha'Agam," ("On the Lake"), 10 HaPark Street, Ra'anana . Curated by: Rachel Ziv. Grand Opening: Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:30 AM
The enchanting artistic courtyard of the Birger family in Kfar Malal, the Birger Studio—a creative atelier dedicated to the art of mosaic—was founded 23 years ago.
What began in a small workshop with a handful of students later expanded into a repurposed structure that once served as a chick hatchery for the founder’s grandfather. Renovated and transformed, this space has flourished into a vibrant hub of artistic innovation, remaining active to this day. The Birger family, among the founders of Kfar Malal, has resided there for over a century.
Mosaic artist Dafna Birger, the studio's founder, shares:
"At first, I worked with a variety of materials—fragments of ceramics, colorful glass. Over time, I studied under artist Hagar Hefetz, refining my own unique artistic language and techniques. My specialty lies in embroidery, weaving, and " fabric-folding" techniques, all executed using natural stone, Caesarstone inlays, and Smalti glass to accentuate color and depth."
Her artistic philosophy is rooted in revealing the alchemy of transformation—how the touch of a hard, unyielding material evolves into a composition of striking delicacy and refinement. "It is, in essence, the wonder of stone."
The studio has become a beacon of knowledge, attracting artists from across the country and beyond. International artists visit to lead workshops, while Birger herself travels worldwide to engage in artistic exchanges.
Mosaic, as an art form, embodies a fascinating paradox. By its very nature—composed of countless tesserae meticulously arranged—the viewer is immediately aware that the image before them is not "real." And yet, in encountering Birger’s creations, one is struck by their remarkable realism and evocative presence. Though entirely two-dimensional, her works conjure vibrant scenes and lifelike imagery.
Birger, both artist and mentor, has exhibited in numerous prestigious settings, including a solo exhibition at Periscope Gallery in Tel Aviv, participation in the Biennale at the Eretz Israel Museum, and inclusion in various distinguished group exhibitions in Israel and abroad.
The "Stone Weavings" exhibition provides an invaluable platform for the studio’s students, offering them the opportunity to showcase their extraordinary works to the public. These pieces encompass a diverse array of artistic themes and experimental techniques, each reflecting the artist's personal vision, innate talent, and boundless imagination, all nurtured under the studio’s expert guidance.
The creations draw inspiration from celebrated artists and art history, but they are not confined by tradition alone. Imagination plays a pivotal role, fostering an independent and free-spirited artistic ethos within the atelier.
The sources of inspiration are vast and eclectic: photography, embroidery, weaving, and the rich legacy of Byzantine and Roman mosaics. At the studio, artists master the transformative act of turning rigid, unyielding materials into intricate, colorful, and poetic compositions—a true testament to the magic of mosaic art.
AVIVA BEN OR ,ORLY NIRAN, ILANA BEYAR , ALONA SHEMESH ,INA WOLF, IRIS BLIZOWSKY , LIZA DOLKART, OSNAT GRUNDMAN, GITA GATTEGNO, DAVID GATTEGNO ' DENISE FILLIEZ, DAFNA OFER ,HELEN AGAMI , YEHUDA UZAN ,YUDITH MOR ,YAFA ZUR ,LEA GILAD ,LILACH KOPCHIAK .MAYA BIRGER YASMIN ,MICHAEL TOLEDANO ,MALKA YASMIN ,NIZA ZERKOV .NIRA DOVER ,SUZY BEN DAVID ,SUSIE SELIGMAN ,EDNA KEDEM ,UDIT ASSOR ,EINAT AIZENMAN ,EINAT BERAN ,AKHZA HARARI, ANAT SEIDEL,RONIT OREN ,RACHEL VAGNER ,RACHEL PRIDMAN ,RIVA WALDMAN
Exhibition Closing Date: March 29, 2025, Visiting Hours:
• Sunday–Thursday & Saturday: 11:00–14:00 | 17:00–19:00
• Friday: 11:00–14:00
