Cv/bio
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Michal Barkai, Artist
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Painter and photographer
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Michal was born and raised in Israel and resides in Livingston, New Jersey.
An IT professional by training, Barkai devotes her time now to painting in pastels and oil, and photography. She is inspired by waterscapes and the changing seasons and enjoys painting on location in local parks and gardens. Beauty, aesthetics, and harmony feed her inner search for serenity and peace.
Barkai’s work was featured in several magazines, including Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, Still Point Arts Quarterly, Stone Voices Magazine and others. She is a Distinguished Signature member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey (PSNJ-DP), of which she served as President from 2014-2022. She is also an associate member of the Pastel Society of America and several other national art organizations, as well as local ones. Barkai is included in the Marquis Who's Who in America. She taught a pastel class in the Montclair adult school. She holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
Selected Awards
- April 2024, Award of Excellence, LAA members show (pastel)
- June 2023, Best in Painting category, The Gaelen Gallery juried exhibition (pastel)
- Apr 2023, Award of Excellence, Livingston Arts Association (pastel)
- Nov 2022, Honorable Mention, PSNJ Annual Members Show, Mary Koether Art Gallery (pastel)
- Oct 2022, Merit award, WEAA members show, Mary Koether Art Gallery (pastel)
- May 2022, Honorable Mention, Livingston Art Association members show (pastel)
- Nov 2021, Honorable Mention, PSNJ Annual Juried Exhibition (pastel)
- April 2021, Award of Excellence, PSNJ Biennial juried Signature Members show (pastel)
- March 2019, Honorable Mention, WEAA juried show (pastel)
- Oct 2016, Honorable Mention, WEAA members show (photograph)
- Nov 2015, Honorable Mention, Livingston Art Association (pastel)
- Nov 2015, Honorable Mention, Pastel Society of New Jersey Annual Juried Show (pastel)
- March 2014, Merit Award, Livingston Camera Club, Thru the Lens IX (photograph)
- Jan 2013, Honorable Mention, WEAA annual juried show (photograph)
- Oct 2012, Photograph of the Month, Livingston Camera Club (also Oct 201)
- Mar 2010, Honorable Mention, Livingston Camera Club, Thru the Lens V (photograph)
- Nov 2008, Honorable Mention, Livingston Art Association Fall Members’ Show (oil)
- Apr 2008, Honorable Mention, MSHAC juried Exhibition, Art Upstairs Gallery (pastel)
- July 2007, Honorable Mention, MSHAC Overlook members' show (pastel)
- Mar 2007, Merit award, Livingston Camera Club, Thru the Lens II (photograph)
- Oct 2005, Merit Award, Livingston Art Association Fall Members’ Show (pastel)
- Apr 2005, Honorable Mention, The Gaelen Gallery 6th annual Juried Exhibition (drawing/pastels)
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 09-10/2024 - Two person show, Gaelen Gallery, Whippany, NJ
- 03/2020 – “Local Color”, Les Malamut Gallery, Union public library, NJ
- 11/2019 - “Recent Work”, Palmer Museum, Springfield, NJ
- 07-08/2016 - ”Landscapes and Seasons II”, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ
- 10/2015 - “Selection”, Glen Rock public library, Glen Rock, NJ
- 10/2014 - “Sightseeing”, Haggerty Education Center Gallery, Frelinghuysen Arboretum, NJ
- 07/2014 - “Sightseeing”, Lundbeck Art Gallery, Paramus, NJ
- 06/2014 - “In Season”, Towne Square Gallery, Crane’s Mill, W. Caldwell, NJ
- 06-07/2013 - “Landscapes and Seasons”, Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ
- 03-04/2013 - “Sightseeing”, Rosalind and Alfred Lippman Gallery, Temple B’nai Jeshurun, Short Hills, NJ
- 10-11/2009 - “As Autumn Leaves … II”, Palmer Museum, Springfield, NJ
- 01-02/2009 - "Starting a New", photographs, Morris Township Municipal Building, NJ
- 03/2008 - "The Gates", photographs; “Faces", portraits; New Providence PL, NJ
- 02/2008 - "Seasons", Bernardsville PL, NJ
- 11-12/2007 - "As Autumn Leaves …", Chase Gallery of the Madison PL, NJ
- 01-04/2007 - photographs, Park Avenue Club, Florham Park, NJ
- 12/06-01/07 - paintings and photographs, Marantz Art Gallery, JCC, West Orange
- 07/2006 - "Turning Point", Block Gallery, SMI, Montclair, NJ
- 04/2006 - "From Maine to Livingston and more", Livingston Gallery, Livingston, NJ
Selected Group and Juried Exhibitions
- 04/2024 - Allied Artist of America Assoc Members O/L Show, 2024-2026
- 06/2023 - The Gaelen Gallery juried exhibition, Whippany, NJ
- (also 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022)
- 05/2023 - Pastel Society of NJ Annual juried members' Exhibition
(also 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) - 04/2023 - PSNJ Biennial juried Signature Members show (online)
(also 2017, 2021) - 6/2022 - IAPS Juried PastelWorld Exhibition - 40th Open Division
- 11/2021 - Pastel Society of NJ Annual Juried Members' Exhibition
(also 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) - 09/2021 - Pastel Society of America 49th Annual juried exhibition, Enduring Brilliance, online
- 09/2020 - Allied Artists of America's 107th Annual Exhibition (online)
- 06/2020 - Served on the jury panel of Pastelium in Moscow
- 03/2020 - WEAA annual members juried show, Crane’s Mill Towne Square Gallery, W. Caldwell, NJ
(also 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) - 04-05/2019 – Spring Awakening, La Vie Galerie juried exhibition, Livingston, NJ
- 02-04/2018 - Winter exhibition, Berkshire-Hathaway, Livingston, NJ
- 07/2016 - National Open Juried Photography Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York
(also 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 & 2014) - 06/2015 - National Open Juried Painting Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York
- 10/2013 - Mountain Art Show national juried exhibition, Bernardsville, NJ
(also 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) - 05/2013 - “The River”, Stone Voices Magazine online showcase, Brunswick, ME
- 07-09/2012 - “Summer Visions”, Art Upstairs Gallery, MPAC, Morristown, NJ
- 03-04/2012 - SMI “View Points 2012” National Juried Exhibition, Ben Shahn Galleries, WPU, NJ
- 01-02/2012 - SMI “Art Connections 8” National Juried Exhibition, George Segal Gallery, MSU, NJ
(also 2007) - 10-11/2010 - The Garden Gallery, Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Fall curated group show
- 06/ 2010 - “Visions @ the Livingston Gallery”, Livingston, NJ
- 01/2010 - The Ridgewood Art Institute 30th Regional Open Juried Show 2010, NJ
- 09-11/2009 - Visual Arts Center of NJ – Emerging Artist Series Invitational, digital photography
- 08/2009 - Lucie Foundation, Official Selection of the 2009 International Photography Awards
- 08/2009 - Bucks County Gallery Invitational Exhibition, NJ Plein Air Society, New Hope, NJ
- 05/2008 - Art in the Park juried fine arts and craft show, Montclair Art Museum, NJ
- 04/2008 - "Is it possible to photograph NJ no matter where you are", Pierro Gallery, S. Orange, NJ
Galleries
- ACL Gallery, Livingston, NJ (2008-2010, 2021-present)
- Livingston Gallery, Livingston, NJ
- The Brigham Gallery Fine Art Auction House, Nantucket, MA (2010)
- Art Chateau Gallery, Chester, NJ (12/2009 – 9/2010)
Selected Publications
- Southwest Art Magazine – 2012-2018 - themed editorials (Artists to Collect, Landscapes, pastel, florals)
- American Art Collector – March 2014 - “Art lovers guide to collecting fine art in Washington, DC & mid-Atlantic States”; December 2014, April 2013 - "Artist Focus"
- Stone Voices Magazine, Summer 2013 – “Shaped” photography portfolio (UT/AZ)
- Still Point Arts Quarterly Magazine, July 2011 – “Seasons” portfolio
- "As Autumn Leaves II, Gorgeous Representational Rendering...", Springfield Patch, Nov 5, 2009
- "An Artist's Reflections", Art in the Vicinity column, Suburban Essex, March 2007
Memberships
- Pastel Society of New Jersey, Distinguished Signature member (PSNJ-DP), President 2014-2022
- Pastel Society of America, associate
- American Women Artists, associate
- Allied Artist of America, associate
- Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, associate
- Studio Montclair Inc.
- NJ Society of Plein Air Painters
- Livingston Arts Association
- West Essex Art Association
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