'Ballerina'

'Ballerina' 1999 unique bronze sculpture on a bronze plinth 1880mm high by Razia Gershon (1931-2021)

Razia Gershon was born in Tel Aviv, joined by three brothers and a sister. Her childhood years were spent in the shadow of the British occupation. Early on in her life, age 12, Razia became involved with a rebel organization fighting the occupation, getting arrested, escaping and leading the life of a strong willed young woman in those years of turmoil.

Razia discovered her love for dance early on and she studied modern ballet under Gertrud Krauss, classical ballet under Mia Arbatova and was a graduate of the Avni Institute of Art in Tel Aviv. Studied art history at the Bar Ilan University. Graduate of the Wingate Institute for ballet and physical education and began teaching Israeli folk dance in youth organizations. With the formation of Israel she went on to join the army and became a physical education officer, first of her kind in those days.

In the following years Razia married and had two children. The family spent several years in Africa where Razia continued working with children in dance and physical education.

In 1981 Razia was seriously injured in an auto accident, leaving her with severe damage in her arm and leg. After a long period of rehabilitation and physical therapy she recovered and decided to follow a new direction in her life. Although she never had a portfolio to show, she was allowed a conditional acceptance into the prestigious Avni School of Art. In 1993 she won a medal in an international exhibition of one hundred and twenty veteran sculptors from all over the world. Following this success she was invited to exhibit at the "Grand Palais" in Paris and other public and private exhibitions.

Initially, Razia Gershon focused on designing sculptures of dancers, which aroused considerable interest among art lovers and collectors. Later she continued to surprise, creating a series of bronze portraits of leaders from different areas of life, as well as animal sculptures, emphasizing her original view point. In these works she proved her maturity, her sharp eye and her clever ability to combine classical and modern sculpture.

Some of her bronze portraits are displayed in important public institutions, among them the portrait of late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin permanently exhibited at the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, Glilot. Also the portrait of U.S. President William Jeffereson Clinton at the "Clinton Library" in Arkansas. Other sculptures expressing the desire for peace are on display at the "Peres Center for Peace" in Tel Aviv.

She had many one man exhibitions in different places in Israel, such as the Hadassah Klatchkin Collection and the Sarah Kishon Collection in Israel. Razia also participated in other exhibitions in Israel, Europe and the United States and over the years won many prizes and awards with her sculptures being purchased by public institutions as well as private collectors. 

1991 exhibited Bastien Gallery, Belgium

1993 exhibited Lehi Museum in Israel 

1993 exhibited Eked Gallery in Israel 

1993 exhibited Exposition Internationalde Nice, France

1993 received the 'Palais des Arts' medal, France

1994 exhibited 'Grand Palais, France

1994 exhibited Hadassah Klatskin Gallery, Israel

1994 exhibited Sarah Kishon Gallery

1995 exhibited Bastien Gallery, Belgium

1995 exhibited Yad Lebanim, Israel

1995 exhibited Liege, Belgium

1995 Private Gallery Exhibition, Paris, France 

1996 Private Gallery Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan

1996 exhibited Kimche Ida Art Gallery, Israel

1996 exhibited Tel Aviv University Club, Israel