An artist’s muse can appear at any time. Whether at a momentous occasion or something as innocuous as grocery shopping, artists never know when they will be graced by an incredible wave of inspiration, calling on them to put brush or pencil to canvas and create a new work.
Bentzi Moser was inspired to become an artist in Jerusalem itself. And years later, the city continues to inspire his work.
This itself is not surprising. Jerusalem has inspired works of art for thousands of years and continues to do so. And Moser is one of those artists who bask in the city’s glory.
This is despite his first painting being something so wholly unrelated, but more on that below.
In Jerusalem sat down with Moser to talk about his journey to artistry and how he remains inspired to this day.
What brought you to Israel?
I came originally in 2016 to study in yeshiva in Jerusalem. And I just fell in love. It was my first time on my own out of the house. And something just comes naturally when you come to Israel. There’s something special about it and about the air. I never wanted to leave.
I stayed in yeshiva for three years, and then I went back to America for a few months, where I met my [future] wife, Fraidy. We got married, and I moved back to Israel. So, I’ve been here for 10 years now, minus a few months.
How did you get into art?
We were kind of bored when I was in school, and we were trying to figure out what to do. We decided to try painting. I bought some things in a store in Rehavia, and I made a painting, and I just fell in love with it. I started painting with it in yeshiva, and I basically never stopped.
Tell me about the first piece you made.
It was super funky. Basically, it was a chicken smoking a cigarette, with a globe background. I’m not really totally sure what inspired it. It was just what came to my mind. And I still have it.
What’s the life and career of an artist like?
It’s interesting. It’s better than having a real job, for me. I tried doing real estate for a bit, but I told my wife I wanted to try being an artist for a living, and thank God it’s been working. But it’s interesting.
It’s mostly commission as of now – 75% commission-based. I exhibited in one gallery in the Old City, but it’s hard to get into galleries, especially in the Jewish world. It’s a very small world of galleries run by a select few, especially since I don’t have any accreditation, and I just had to figure it out on my own. I had an Instagram that I was doing for a long time, and then it was just word of mouth.
So far, I have only done painting, but I would love to do some other forms of art as well.
I’ve thought about going to art school, but I kind of enjoy figuring it out for myself.
I recently had my first mural commissioned. I’m still working on the exact image, but I think it will be a Jerusalem-inspired mural, maybe a street scene with the Kotel, Beit Hamikdash, that sort of thing. Jerusalem always offers incredible inspiration. Just walking around the streets, going through the shuk – it’s just endless inspiration.
Who are your artistic inspirations?
My big inspiration was Van Gogh for the first couple of years. [Menashe] Kadishman has become a major inspiration in recent years; you can see his stuff all over Israel.
Toward the beginning of my career, I did a lot of art blending Judaica and pop art, so Andy Warhol is definitely an inspiration. Roy Lichtenstein and Marc Chagall, too.
My wife, Fraidy, is also a big inspiration, as well as my advocate and saleswoman.
What is your favorite piece of art that you’ve made?
Probably the last painting I made of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. There’s just something about his face. It really captures attention. It’s a new style for me, too; very colorful. Not abstract but very bright and funky, and it certainly captures his image.
I’ve always loved to paint rabbis and other iconic figures.
What is your studio like?
Up until now, I spent my time split between watching my one-year-old and painting. It’s in the basement, three floors down, and it’s where I can get lost. Fraidy and I knew we were going to buy the house when we stepped foot in that room and knew it would become my studio.
What’s something about being an artist that most people don’t realize?
I think it’s harder than people think. I think artists in general have a reputation for being all ‘go with the flow,’ but it’s harder than people think to access that part of your brain and imagination. Creativity is taken for granted sometimes.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Just do it. Just go with it. Do whatever you can, and make what you want to make.
When I was starting out, people were telling me what I should make, but I think the best thing is to make what you’re inspired to make, and the world will catch up.