Marek Yanai was born in Germany in 1946. He made aliya to Israel  from Poland in 1957.

He graduated in Fine Arts and Design at Bezalel Academy Jerusalem in 1970, student of Yosef Hirsch.

1969-71 he founded and directed the “Teddy” Puppet Theatre.

1973-74 studied the techniques of the Old Masters in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Art, Madrid.

From 1996 until the present day a Senior Lecturer in the Bezalel academy Jerusalem and also teaches in his studio.

The principle of the studio’s activities is painting from observation. The studio is characterized by a great respect for the craft in painting : drawing as a basis for painting, line and mark, composition, color theory, faithfulness to the unwritten laws passed down through the centuries that are the foundations of art. Repeated exercise of craftsmanship as a value leading to personal interpretation and creative self expression in a variety of media : drawing, oil and watercolor. Work is both in the studio space and, ‘en plein air’ in the Jerusalem landscape. The studio promotes working as a group to induce mutual learning and fertile creativity, while encouraging personal choice in artistic expression.

Lives and works in Jerusalem, father to Michael and Noa.

One Man Exhibitions

2015       “Marek Yanai”, Hacubia, Jerusalem. Curator: Noa bachner, Ella Cohen Vansover

2014       “Jerusalem double perspective”, Matsart Gallery, Jerusalem. Curator: Oren Migdal

2014       “Video screenings of water color portraits demos”, Bezalel Academy, Jerusalem.

2004       Portraits, Artists’ House, Jerusalem. Curator: Orna Lipshitz Beckman.

2004       Recent works, Mayanot  Gallery, Jerusalem. Curator: Yael Ganessia

1997       Heads in watercolor, Artists’ House, Jerusalem.

1994       Carol Schwartz Gallery, Philadelphia.

1993       Mayanot Gallery, Jerusalem.

1991       Artists’ House, Jerusalem.

1990       S.D. Gallery, Lodz, Poland.

1989       Carol Schwartz Gallery, Philadelphia.

1988       Mayanot Gallery, Jerusalem

1987       Shdema Gallery, tel Aviv

1984       Ella Gallery, Jerusalem.

1983       Profile Gallery, New York.

1982       VII Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida.

1982       Engel Gallery, New York.

1981       Engel Gallery, New York.

1979       Hadassah K. Gallery, Tel Aviv.

1979       Artists’ House, Jerusalem.

1977       Hadassah K. Gallery, Tel Aviv.

1975       Hadassah K. Gallery, Tel Aviv.

1974       Spectrum Gallery, Vienna.

Group Exibitions

2015       Salon Hacubia 2015″, Hacubia, Jerusalem. Curator: Dan Orimian, Ella Cohen Vansover

2015       “Aquarelle”, Hakubiya, Jerusalem.

2014       “They paint flowers”, Jaffa Art Salon, Tel Aviv. Curator: Amit Cabessa

2008       “Jerusalem face fragments, The Jerusalem Artists House, Curators: Zvi Tolkovsky, Israel Hadany, Hedva Shemesh

2007      ”Eyes”  Illustration exhibition, I.C.C. Jerusalem.

2006       ”Age of Innocence”, Israel Museum. Curator: Shlomit Steinberg

2005       ”Chaim”, Ramat Gan Museum Curator: Hannah  Kopler

2004       ”Self portrait” Yakar Gallery, Jerusalem. Curator: Ann Sassoon.

2003       ”Homage to Joseph Hirsch”, Jerusalem Theatre. Curator: Helen Bar Lev

2003       ”Homage to Joseph Hirsch”, Artists’ House, Haifa

2002       ”Nine Measures” Yakar Gallery, Jerusalem. Curator:  Ann Sassoon.

2001       ”Without Borders”, Villa Grenzenloss, Potsdam.

2000       ”The Third Color”, Artists’ House, Jerusalem. Curator: Ayana Friedman.

1998       ”Eye Level”, Artists’ House, Jerusalem. Curator: Nella Cassuto

Illustrations for books and magazines: 

Paintings for the film “Nuzhat” (director: Judd Neeman), Cover and illustrations for the book “Unique Journey” (Chava Pinhas-Cohen), Book cover: “The Book in the Jewish World, 1700-1900” (Zeev Gries), Book cover: “The Book as Cultural Feathers” ( Prof. Zeev Gris, Hillel Ben Chaim), Book cover: “Divorced” (T.Mendelson), Cover and illustrations for the weekly “Davar”, Illustrations for “Monitin” magazine, Cover for “Moment” magazine, Illustrations for “Einaim” Magazine.

Prizes:  

Mordechai Ish Shalom prize for a special contribution to art 2003, Shoshana Ish Shalom prize for artistic creation 1997, Fenniger prize for young artists 1967.