Mally Elbaz Almandine (born 5 July 1955) is an Israeli visual artist, educator, and author. She works mainly in painting and mixed-media art. Her work draws on personal memories, the landscape of northern Israel, and traditional Yemenite decorative patterns.
Early life Elbaz Almandine was born in Afula, Israel, to a family of Yemenite Jewish background. She studied art and education at Ohalo College and Oranim College of Education, earning a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in education and art. She later completed a Master of Arts (M.A.) in education and art through an international program with the University of Latvia.
Career Elbaz Almandine worked as an art teacher and pedagogical supervisor in early childhood art education for the Israeli Ministry of Education in the northern district. During her career in education, she established an art activity center in Tiberias and operated an independent puppet theater.
In her visual art practice, Elbaz Almandine constructs layered compositions using acrylics, oils, and structural mark-making. Her artistic approach combines traditional Yemenite decorative motifs with contemporary abstract structures. A recurring visual symbol in her work is the almandine, a deep red garnet gemstone that she has associated with her surname and artistic identity.
In an analytical essay published in the literary journal מראה (Mar'eh), art historian Nurit Cederboum compared Elbaz Almandine's dense, patterned surfaces to the ornamental compositions of modern artists such as Gustav Klimt and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, describing her usage of ornament as visual poetry.
In 2017, Elbaz Almandine was included among the artists featured in the Art Market Magazine special edition "Gold List – Top Contemporary Artists of Today", which highlighted selected contemporary artists from various countries.
Her 2020 solo exhibition, Rikmat Chayim, held at Beit HaOmanim (Artists' House) in Tel Aviv, was reviewed in Israel Hayom. Cultural critic David Perber highlighted her use of vibrant color fields and intricate detailing to address themes of geographical periphery, identity, and personal history in Israeli society.
Exhibitions Elbaz Almandine has participated in solo and group exhibitions in Israel:
Beit HaOmanim (Tel Aviv, 2020): Solo exhibition, Rikmat Chayim (Living Embroidery). Beit Gabriel (Jordan Valley, 2013): Group exhibition, Maba Nashii (Feminine Expression).
Publications Ze Ba MiBifnim. Bat-Or Publishing, 2020.
References
External links Mally Elbaz Almandine on Artsy Mally Elbaz Almandine on MutualArt