معرفی
Tobi Kahn is a New York-based painter and sculptor who has taught fine arts at the School of Visual Arts for over 30 years. His work spans painting, sculpture, and ceremonial objects, with more than 70 solo museum exhibitions to his name. His art is held in major collections including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Phillips Collection, and Jewish Museum.
- BA, summa cum laude, Hunter College
- MFA, Pratt Institute
Kahn's artistic practice explores the intersection of spirituality, memory, and healing through abstract forms. His work draws from American modernists like Arthur Dove and Georgia O'Keeffe while being deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and spirituality. He creates meditative spaces, Holocaust memorials, and interfaith installations, believing that 'art is a holy act' and serves as a conduit for healing and understanding. His paintings are based on photographs he takes, which he then transmutes into memory-based abstractions.
His recent exhibitions show a progression from landscape-based abstraction to figurative work, with his 'FORMATION: Images of the Body' series marking his return to the human figure after thirty years. His work often addresses themes of memory, spirituality, and healing, particularly in response to trauma and loss, including his work for the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
- Alumni Achievement Award, Pratt Institute
- Honorary Doctorate, The Jewish Theological Seminary
- Cultural Achievement Award for the Visual Arts, The National Foundation for Jewish Culture
- The First Ritualist Award, Lab/Shul
Kahn is deeply committed to teaching and artistic mentorship, having taught at SVA since the mid-1980s. He co-founded the Artists' Beit Midrash, a sacred text and art program at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. His work often involves collaborations with institutions on healing spaces, memorials, and interfaith projects. Kahn has created numerous meditative installations including SHALEV in New Harmony, Indiana; EMET for the HealthCare Chaplaincy; Holocaust memorial gardens; and installations for the 9/11 Memorial Museum.
His studio functions as a creative refuge where he meticulously crafts works with up to thirty layers of gesso, modeling paste, paint and glaze, sometimes taking years to complete. Kahn's commitment to 'Tikkun Olam' (mending the world) drives his artistic practice and his belief that 'every person should have a way to experience peace in this world.'
