Menashe Kadishman
(1932–)
(–2015)
Menashe Kadishman
1932–2015
Menashe Kadishman (1932–2015) was an Israeli painter and sculptor known for his colorful paintings of sheep heads and impressive large-scale sculptures. His upbringing as a shepherd on a kibbutz influenced the recurring sheep motif present in his artwork. This thematic element became a central focus in the artist’s body of work. Born in Tel Aviv, Mandate Palestine, Kadishman began his artistic journey under the instruction of Moshe Sternschuss at the Avni Institute of Art and Design.
Kadisman relocated to London in 1959, immersing himself in studies at the St. Martin's School of Art and the Slade School of Art. During this time, Kadishman encountered minimalist painting and established connections with artists like Anthony Caro and Reg Butler, thereby exploring Minimalist sculpture, emphasizing the interplay between materials and formal elements.
As Kadishman's career progressed, he started creating sculptures that were more expressive and free flowing. He gained a lot of praise for his large-scale steel artworks that looked like cut-out shapes, resembling drawings. In the 1990s, he made important sculptures for the Jewish Museum in Berlin, highlighting the suffering of Holocaust victims and all those affected by violence and war.
One of Kadishman’s notable installations is the 2001 exhibition called Shalechet (Fallen Leaves), which consisted of a pathway decorated with metal disc “faces”. Such work has evoked strong memory of the Holocaust for many viewers. Though Kadishman considered himself a humanist who aims to convey a universal message denouncing violence and human suffering while inspiring hope for a peaceful future in Israel/Palestine.