MFA, Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, US
Uri Katzenstein, a consummate artist and an inspiring, enormous soul, was born in 1951 in Tel Aviv, where he passed away suddenly in his studio in 2018 at the age of 67. His untimely and far-too-early death was a tremendous loss – not only to his family, friends, loved ones, and the Israeli art community, but to art itself.
Katzenstein studied art at Indiana State University and completed his MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, he moved to New York, where he performed in alternative spaces using musical instruments he had crafted himself. Among these was a distinctive flute that produced sound from draining liquids such as blood, milk, and water – an instrument he continued to use extensively throughout his career.
Upon returning to Israel in 1985, the innovation and maturity of his work immediately captured the attention of the art community, leading to exhibitions in major museums and galleries. A trailblazer of multidisciplinary art in Israel, he was among the first to combine performance, sculpture, music, dance, the construction of sound machines, and video. His sculptures, executed with exceptional technical mastery, carried an undercurrent of raw and turbulent energy beneath their polished and refined surfaces.
A central theme in Katzenstein’s work was the body – especially his own – which he used as an endless source of raw material: its shape, unique silhouette, blood, nails, tattoos, and piercings. His body anchored various objects and tools that acted as extensions of himself while also serving as a canvas for images fusing masculinity and femininity, challenging the conventional Israeli masculine ideal that cast its traumatic shadow over him. In his work, he aimed to push beyond human boundaries, exploring the animalistic and embracing a playful, ‘incorrect’ sense of creatureliness.
“Of all things, sometimes normality. Is the hardest to work through,” Katzenstein said in his workHope Machines(2006-7). Indeed, his fundamental outlook on the world was one of resistance. From a young age, as an only child to German-born parents in a conservative, militaristic culture, he sought the strange and unconventional, rejecting the mainstream and gravitating toward the margins. He was captivated by malfunction, failure, and things that didn’t quite work. Yet, these painful and flawed places became a source of meaning and excitement, for, as he put it, they could be “rescued from their own banality” to produce change, hope, and connection. For example, the image of the lab coat – drawn from his parents’ delicatessen – became a recurring motif in his work, charged with his persona as a scientist, shaman, and healer. Similarly, his service as a combat medic during the Yom Kippur War left a post-traumatic imprint that inspired a series of delicate and poetic drawings made with his own blood.
The complexity of Katzenstein’s body of work, along with his multifaceted personality, has been reflected in many texts written about him. He was described as a combination of a sweet child with a hint of restrained violence, a charismatic man with a soft yet unyielding voice, and an artist whose art shifts between naïve New Age sensibilities and horror film aesthetics. His works were said to convey deep suffering while being outrageously funny. Ohad Fishof defined him as somewhere between a Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle and Joseph Beuys, while Yigal Zalmona saw him as a blend of Walt Disney and Antonin Artaud. Katzenstein himself summed up his duality in these words: “I’m a very responsible, disciplined, and organized person, but I think it’s important to skid off track sometimes.”
~
Uri Katzenstein (1951-2018, Tel Aviv, worked in the US and Israel) was a groundbreaking multidisciplinary artist in Israel. His work integrated sculpture, performance, video, music, and the construction of musical instruments and sound machines. Katzenstein gained international recognition, exhibiting and performing in major galleries and museums in Israel and around the world. Alongside his artistic practice, he taught for many years at Haifa University’s Art Department, a role he cherished deeply.
His notable achievements include participating in the 1991 São Paulo Biennial and representing Israel at the 49thVenice Biennale in 2001. Among the many awards he received was first prize at the 2002 International Art Biennial in Buenos Aires.
On his tombstone, inscribed in the cryptic language he created, stands the self-reflective phrase that echoes throughout his work –You Never Know.
By Hanna Freund Chertok
An interview with the artist Uri Katzenstein by Hetty Berg, chief curator of the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam, for the exhibition "The Institute of Ongoing Things," 2018
1951-2018. Tel Aviv, Israel.
Education
- 1978-1980
- 1974-1977
BFA, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN, US
- 1972-1973
Avni Institute of Art and Design, Tel Aviv, IL
Teaching
- 2002-2018
University of Haifa, Department of Fine Arts, Haifa, IL
- 1998-2002
Beit Berl College, Faculty of Arts - Hamidrasha, Head of the Department of Sculpture, Beit Berl, IL
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2018-2019
“The Institute of Ongoing Things,” Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam, DU
- 2018
“PrePast,” Hezi Cohen Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
Lounge, New York; Bon Ton / Yom Gagatzi (performance with Eric Darton), Danceteria, New York; “Atomic Parking Lot,” Fashion Moda, New York (performance) - 2017
“Anna's Assignment,” Anna Akhmatova Literary and Memorial Museum, St. Petersburg, RU
- 2015
“Backyard,” Midlife Retrospective, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2008
“Room of Hope,” Goren Gallery, the Academic College, Jezreel Valley, IL
- 2007
“Hope Machines,” CCA Tel Aviv | Galerie der Künste, Berlin, DE
- 2004
“Vehicles,” Trace Gallery, Cardiff, Wells, UK
- 2003
“The family of brothers,” 2nd International Art Biennial of Bueno Aires, AR (First prize)
- 2001
“Home,” 49th Venice Biennale, the Israel Pavilion, Venice, IT
- 2000
“Families,” Duke University, NC, US
“The Family of Brothers,” Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL - 1996
“Love Dub,” Artists' Studio, Tel Aviv, IL
- 1993
“Missive,” the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL
- 1987
“Works,” Dvir Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
- 1981
“New no.2,” Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2025
"A Group Exhibition with Uri Katzenstein," Ramat Gan Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, IL (an homage to Uri Katzenstein)
- 2023
"After Life: Who Comes After Us 2,” The Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL (a multidisciplinary art event in the spirit of Uri Katzenstein)
"Nature Gave a Museum, I Gave the Body," Ein Hod Gallery, Ein Hod, IL
"1973 – Memory Marking Map," The Gallery for Israeli Art at the Tivon Memorial Center, Tivon, IL - 2022
"After Life: Who Comes After Us 1,” The Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL (a multidisciplinary art event in the spirit of Uri Katzenstein)
Israeli Collection, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL - 2021
“Life / Still Life / Land,” Museum on The Seam Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IL
- 2019
“First Person, Singular,” Ashdod Art Museum, Ashdod, IL
“Larva Society for Psychical Research,” Artists' House Jerusalem, Jerusalem, IL
“You Never Know,”, ZAZ10TS and Artis, New York, NY, US - 2018-2019
“New Age,” MoBY, Museums of Bat Yam, Bat Yam, IL
- 2017
“There and Not There: (Impossibility of a Monument),” 11th Kaunas Biennial, Kaunas, LI
- 2016
“Men and Women from the Museum's Collection,” Bar-David Museum of Art and Judaica, Bar'am, IL
“(dis)place,” Ashdod Art Museum, Ashdod, IL
“Capsule at Jessi Cohen,” the Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL 2014
“Over the Rooftops of Berlin,” Galerie der Künste, Berlin, DE
“Fine Mechanics,” the Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL - 2013
Three Trees, ״ no-se-no, New York, NY, US
“About Stupidity,” the Petah Tikva Museum of Art, Petah Tikva, IL
“Hollow,” the 2nd Biennale of Israeli Internet Art, IL - 2011
Resonance Boxes,” Rubin Museum, Tel Aviv, IL
“Ad-dress,” Jerusalem Artists House, Jerusalem, IL
“u.a.i,” Habait Halavan, Nir Oz, IL
“Neo-Barbarism,” Rothschild 69 projects, Tel Aviv, IL
“Constructio-deconstruction,” Tape Modern, Berlin, DE - 2010
"Evett," HaMidrasha Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Bread and Roses," Minshar Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
“Ciclo de Video Arte,” Museo de Arte Moderno, Buenos Aires, AR
“Erased Walls,” the 3rd Mediations Biennale, The National Gallery, Poznan, PO | Bratislava, SV | Berlin, DE
"Trembling Time," Tate Modern, London, UK
"Tin Boxes," The Rubin Museum, Tel Aviv, IL - 2009
"Who Am I and What is My Name?" NCCA, Ekaterinburg, RU | MoCA: Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, US
“P.O.V Israeli Photography,” Hatahana, Tel Aviv, IL
"Family Pictures," the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL - 2008
1st Mediations Biennale, The National Gallery, Poznan, PO
"Invideo," An Israeli Selection, CCA, Tel Aviv, IL
“Israel in den Augen lokaler FilmemacherInnen,” Top Kino, Vienna, AT
"Territorial Bodies," Museum Beelden aan Zee, Den Haag, DU
"Degenerate Art," Dan Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL "The White Sport," Minshar Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Fresh Paint," Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
VideoZone – 4, Opening Performance, Radio HALAS, the Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL - 2007
"Pathos," Gallery Dieter Reitz, Kassel, DE
“Sipa: Seoul International Prints,” Photography Art Fair, Seoul, KR
“Asia – Europe Mediations,” National Gallery Po, Poznań, PO
"Hapzura," sound interventions, the Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL
"About Time," Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Herzliya, IL
“Fresh Paint," Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"About Time", Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Herzliya, IL - 2006
"Trace: In New York," Franklin Furnace, New York, NY, US
- 2005
"Little Red Riding Hood," Dot Fifty-One, Art Basel, Miami, FL, US
"Realizing a Future," Contemporary Voices, the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, US
"Zoya vs. Igal. Referee: Uri Katzenstein," Galerie der Künste, Berlin, DE
"Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On," Chelsea Art Museum, New York, NY, US - 2004
"Alphabet," Gavel Konstcentrum, Stockholm, SE
"The Puppet Show," Time for Art, Tel Aviv, IL - 2003
"The Claim of Images," KunstMuseum Bochum, Bochum, DE
(Pro)crop, the Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, RU
"Families of Men," the Art Department Study Gallery, University of Haifa, Haifa, IL
Haifa 2nd International Installation Triennale, Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa, IL
"Communication Interferences," Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa, IL
"Art Focus," Contemporary Israeli Art, various exhibition venues, Jerusalem, IL - 2002
"Parallel Worlds," K&S Gallery, Berlin, DE
"Perfume," Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Borders of Sculpture," Tefen Museum, Migdal Tefen, IL
"Where are the Children?" Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Self Portrait," Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL - 2001
"Self-Reflection," Artists' House, Tel Aviv, IL
"Israeli Video Art," The University Gallery, University of Haifa, Haifa, IL - 1999
"Back Room Noise," Refusalon Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
"Drawing the Line," Ambrogonio Gallery, Miami, FL, US
"Wonderland," the New Studio, Ramat Eliyahu, IL
"Fantasia," Arad Museum, Arad, Israel | MoBY, Bat Yam, IL
"7/10," Artists' Studio, Tel Aviv, IL
"Works on Paper," Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Local Ready Made," Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL - 1998
“After Rabin – New Art from Israel," The Jewish Museum, New York, NY, US
- 1997
"Series," Givon Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
4th Biennale of Sculpture, Ein Hod, IL
"Memo/Random," Ami Steinitz Gallery for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL
“Hamidrasha," Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, IL - 1996
"Ketav," Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, New York, NY, US
"Visions of a New Morning," Hambach Palace, DE
"Signs," Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL - 1994
"Dejavoodoo," Art Focus, the Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, IL
"The Suitcase," Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL - 1993
"Recent Acquisitions," the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, US
"Worum Gehts," Romer Museum, Hildesheim, DE
"Makom," Contemporary Art from Israel, Museum of Modern Art, Shtiffung, Ludwig, Vienna, AT
"Anti-Pathos," Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL - 1992
"Who is Signed Under the Duck?" Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
Design Line Art, the Museum of Israeli Art, Ramat Gan, IL
"Postscripts," the Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL - 1991
São Paulo Art Biennial, the Israeli Presentation, Sao Paolo, R
- 1990
Opening Exhibition, Artists' Studio, Tel Aviv, IL
1st Biennale of Sculpture, Ein Hod, IL - 1989
"Artists for Human Rights," Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Eclipse," Bograshov Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL - 1988
"Forty from Israel," Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY, US
"The Critics Choice," Artifact Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
"Fresh Paint," Israel Museum, Jerusalem, IL - 1987
"Theatrical Views," Kalisher 5 Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
- 1984
"Sound Art," Baca, New York, NY, US
- 1980
“Work No. 4," The Farm, San Francisco, CA, US
"The Word is Vroom Vroom," Pangaya,San Francisco, CA ,US
Selected Festivals
- 2016
Tectonics Festival, Tmuna Theatre, Tel Aviv, IL (UKOIDM with Daniel Meir and Ilzeski)
- 2013
Iconophilia, Manofim – Jerusalem Contemporary Art Festival, Jerusalem, ILThe Electronic Fact (with Ishai Adar), (ORY), Kasba Records Ltd.
- 2010
Poeteka, Festival of Poetry, Tirana, AL
- 2008
AIACE Invideo Festival, the Israeli representative, Milano, IT
Israeli Short Works, Jerusalem Film Festival, Jerusalem Cinematheque, Jerusalem, IL - 2007
Video Zone, Tel Aviv Cinematheque, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2006
Maf06, New Media Arts Festival, Bangkok, TH
Jerusalem Film Festival, the Chan Theatre, Jerusalem, IL - 2005
Hunger, the Jerusalem Film Festival, Kalisher Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2004
Video Zone, Cinematheque, Tel Aviv, IL
Selected Live Performances
- 2017
Uganda, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2016
Yom Gagatzi, Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL (with Ohad Fishof and Binya Reches)
Men Explain Things to Me, Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL
UKOIDM, Levontin 7, Tel Aviv, IL (with Daniel Meir and Ophfir Ilzetzki)
UKRS, Urban Art Rave at Bascula, Tel Aviv, IL | Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Herzliya, IL (with Ran Slavin)
Instrumenta, Jaffa Museum, Tel Aviv, IL
Experimental Israel, Radio HALAS, The Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL - 2015
Working Day, Helena Rubinstein Pavilion for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, IL (with Meir Tati)
- 2012
Yom Gagatzi Music Performance, Ozen Bar, Tel Aviv, IL | MoBY: Museum of Bat Yam, Bat Yam, IL (with Ohad Fishof and Binya Reches)
- 2011
Where to?, The Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, IL
- 2010
SURNAME, Mediations Biennale, Poznan, PO
- 2009
Yom Gagatzi, MoBY: Museum of Art FACTORY, Bat Yam, IL (with Ohad Fishof and Binya Reches)
Caretakers, Blurr, the 7th Biennale of Performance, CCA, Tel Aviv, IL | Habama, Jerusalem, Israel (with Binya Reches) - 2008
Love Song, ART, Tel Aviv, IL
Memo, Art TLV, The Balcony, Tel Aviv, IL - 2006
Man with No Shirt, Barzilay Club, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2005
Hope Machines, Hapzura: The Israeli Center for Digital Art, Holon, Israel | Hateiva, Tel Aviv, IL
Hope Machines, the 9th Istanbul Biennale, Istanbul Technological University – M.I.A.M, Istanbul, TR (with Binya Reches)
Hearat Shulayim, Bloomfield Science Museum, Jerusalem, Israel (with Binya Reches) - 2004
Hope Machines, the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, US
- 2003
SURNAME, the 2nd International Installation Biennale, Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa, IL
- 2002
SURNAME, Rosenfeld Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2001
Ciclo de performances, Centro Galego de Arte, Santiago de Compostela, ES
SURNAME, Action Express, Rachel and Israel Pollack Gallery, Tel Aviv, IL - 1998
Frogman/Mirror/Frogman, Turtle Key, London, UK | The Place, London, UK (with Ohad Fishof)
- 1995
Ritual Reality no. 67, TV show, IL
- 1992
Samara, a rock opera by Hillel Mittepunkt, Tzavta Theatre, Tel Aviv, IL
“Love Song,” live performance, Israeli Television, IL - 1991
Israeli Art Around the 90's," Pantai Rai, Kunsthalle Dusseldorf, DE (with Yossi Lederman)
- 1986
Medias, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL (with Noam Zide Halevy)
- 1984
"This is Not a Sculpture," The Kitchen, New York, NY, US
- 1983
Confessione Pollo, Danceteria, the Terminal Show, New York, NY, US (with Eric Darton)
Yom Gagatzi, Limbo Lounge, no-se-no, New York, NY | 8/BC, New York, NY, US (with Laurie Perricci)
Iconic Milk Man, Brooklyn Museum, BACA, New York, NY, US (with Laurie Perricci)
Live Radio with Isaac Jackson, Fashion Moda, New York, NY, US | WBAI Radio, New York, NY, US - 1982
Of Pain and Pleasure, Fashion Moda, New York, NY, US
Atomic Parking Lot Muzak, Fashion Moda, New York, NY, US
Discography
- 2023
Yom Gagatzi & The Institute of Ongoing Things, Raash Records (music in collaboration with Ohad Fishof, Binya Reches, and Ishay Adar)
- 2022
Audio Works – Uri Katzenstein Album, Black Truffle (Electronic)
- 2008
0_1 Compilation, Studio Magazine, Israel (vocals, music in collaboration with Ohad Fishof)
- 2006
C. Sides Compilation (''In the Garden", vocals, music in collaboration with Binya Reches)
- 2004
Anne Li - Ehud Banai. N.M.C Rec. (guest musician playing the theremin on two of the album tracks)
- 2003
Shabatot Mechanism, compilation (the series soundtrack) – (vocals, music)
Remember Ben, Hed-Artzi Rec. (vocals on a reaches track) - 1999
Oosh – Her, Ishay Adar MCI Records (vocals on three tracks)
- 1997
Winston Rock Collection, Nana Disc (love song, vocals music) Ksassa,
The Electronic Fact (ORY ) Records (love dub, vocals, music, with Ishay Adar)
Skin O. Daayba, Earsay - The Third Ear Records (vocals, music with Ohad Fishof) - 1995
Love Dub, Kasba Records LTD (vocals, music, words).
Stuff, compilation Kasba Records LTD (vocals, music, words)
Awards and Prizes
- 2017
Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2014
The Dan Sandel and Sandel Family Foundation Sculpture Award, The Tel Aviv Museum, IL
- 2005
The Fund for Video Art and Experimental Cinema in Israel, CCA, Tel Aviv, IL
- 2003
Scholarship, The New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT), Tel Aviv, IL
- 2002
First Prize, 2nd Biennale Internacional de Arte, Buenos Aires, AR
- 2000
Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Isracard Prize, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, IL
- 1998
Prize, Ministry of Education and Culture, IL
- 1992
George and Janet Jaffin Prize for Excellence in Plastic Arts, America-Israel Cultural Foundation, IL
- 1989
Prize for Completion of Project, Ministry of Education, IL
- 1982
Prize for the Encouragement of Creative Art, Ministry of Education and Culture, IL
