Calman Shemi

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Calman Shemi (1939 – 2025)

Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939. A graduate of the School of Sculpture and Ceramics in Mendoza, he studied under the Italian-Argentinean sculptor Libero Badii, whom he credited with putting him on the right path.

“He taught me principles not only related to sculpture, but human and philosophical principles,” Shemi said.

He also carefully studied the work of masters such as Picasso, Caravaggio, Frank Stella, and Matisse.

“From each one of these great artists I learned something from observing them.”

In 1961, at the age of 20, Shemi immigrated to Israel and joined Kibbutz Carmia, where he lived for twenty years. There, he worked both in agriculture and as a sculptor, creating works in wood and clay. Several of his large-scale fiberglass and polyester projects are situated in public buildings.

He was a student of German-Israeli sculptor Rudi Lehmann, a pioneer of the artistic movement known as Canaanism. This movement sought to create a direct relationship with the land, bypassing historical Jewish connotations—hence the use of the land’s primordial name. Canaanite works emphasize the interaction of simple shapes and bear deliberate resemblance to the sculpture and ritual art of early civilizations in the Middle East, always with an eye toward the fusion of man and land.

Though sculpture dominated his early career, in the mid-1970s Shemi developed the concept of the “soft painting.” Beginning with a color drawing done to scale, he layered irregularly shaped pieces of textured and colored fabrics. Using a threadless 9,000-needle sewing machine, the fabrics were meshed together and to the background, resulting in vibrant compositions full of exuberant color and movement.

Over the years, Shemi continued to challenge himself by developing new mediums, including his Lacquer Paintings and Window Paintings.

Lacquer Paintings were created by applying vivid color to wood or metal panels gilded with gold or silver leaf. Once dry, the surface was layered with multiple coats of lacquer, each hand-polished to achieve a radiant shine.

Window Paintings were inspired by the irresistible curiosity to look through a window and see what lies beyond. These works resemble imaginative shadow boxes—paintings placed inside wooden boxes with hand-made, gilded frames and layers of lacquer, creating an illusion of depth and discovery.

Shemi’s lacquer and window techniques are reminiscent of ancient methods used in Japan and China.

“What interests me is continually researching and finding different techniques. The inspiration or muse comes to me while I am working. It doesn’t originate in my mind—just the opposite. It grows out of the paper or canvas.”

“Inspiration comes from my children, my grandchildren, my wife, the people on the street, the trees, the sky, films I’ve seen, and books I’ve read. The muse consists of millions of diverse influences that give birth to a new technique.”

“All of the art that I create is full of optimism and beauty. That’s all. Simple, very simple.”

During the past eighteen years, Calman Shemi held more than seventy solo exhibitions in the United States, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Israel. His works are part of many public and private collections around the world.

Calman Shemi passed away in 2025. His legacy lives on through his art—full of color, life, and boundless imagination.

Calman Shemi

Date/Time

Name

Location

21
February
,
2015
Blue Gallery 616, Delray Beach Florida
12
February
,
2010
Blue Gallery 616, Delray Beach Florida