Itzachak Tarkay is certainly one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. Utilizing a style clearly influenced by French and Post-Impressionism, his rich tapestries of form and vibrant color has earned him worldwide recognition as one of the leading figurative artists of our lifetime. His collections are found at the world’s most exclusive art collections and museums around the world, and his prestige continues to grow with art collectors everywhere.

Tarkay was born in 1935 on the Yugoslav-Hungarian border, and as a young boy he was sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp by the Nazis. Finally freed by Allied forces, he received a scholarship in 1951 to the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, where he studied under the prominent artist Schwartzman.

Here, he began to perfect his bold use of color, but it wasn’t until he attended the prestigious Avni Institue of Art in Tel Aviv that he mastered a form that has been likened to both Henri Matisse and Hendi de Toulouse-Lautree. The resulting vibrancy of color and clean lines propelled the young artist to instant recognition, and his art has been in high demand ever since.

Today, Tarkay continues to impress with his mastery of bold form and expression. From serigraphs and sculptures to watercolors and oil paintings, his ability to create intimacy and his contemplative depictions of the female form have placed him squarely as one of the century’s most important and influential artists. Barry Chappell’s Fine Art Showcase in honored to represent an artist of such world-renowned prestige.