Biography

Calman Shemi, sculptor and painter, was born in Argentina in 1939.  A graduate of the School of Sculpture and Ceramics in Mendoza, he studied with the Italian-Argentine sculptor Libero Badii and the German-Israeli sculptor Rudi Lehman.

In 1961, he settled in Israel and joined Kibbutz Carmia where he was a member for twenty years. There he worked in agriculture and also as a sculptor, working in wood and clay.

Several of Shemi's large-scale fiberglass and polyester projects are situated in various public buildings throughout the world.  Sculpture dominated his early years as an artist. In 1977, while living in the Kibbutz he developed the idea of the "soft painting" medium.

In his soft paintings, he begins with a color drawing done to scale. He then layers irregularly shaped pieces of variously textured and colored fabrics resulting in vibrant compositions infused with exuberant color and explosive movement.  During the last years, Shemi has worked intensively with wall sculptures laser-cut steel, his new field of expression.

Over the last fifteen years, he has held more than seventy one-man-shows in the USA, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Israel.  Calman Shemi has also created 1200 prints for cabins of the "Sensation", a carnival Cruise liner, large-scale paintings for the liner's suites and the public places. Shemi has also created paintings and sculptures for two other Carnival Cruise Lines the "Elevation" and the "Paradise".
Calman Shemi has achieved an art expression that has received international acclaim and acceptance.

As many artists strive to challenge themselves with new artistic mediums, Calman Shemi has done just that by developing two unique techniques of painting; his “lacquer paintings” and “window paintings.

Lacquer Paintings

These special pieces are created using vibrant colors and are painted on a wood or metal panel that has been gilded with gold and /or silver leaf. After the paint has thoroughly dried, many layers of lacquer are applied to the surface giving it a glowing effect. Between each layer of lacquer the piece is hand polished to give the surface its very shiny look.

Window Paintings

This creative style of painting resembles an imaginative “shadow box” painting. Shemi first creates a painting inside a wooden box. After the painting is completed, he then attaches a hand made wooden frame to the box. This unusual technique creates an illusion of looking through a window to a landscape or room. The frame is then gilded with gold and /or silver leaf and is layered with many coats of lacquer. This special technique creates the contrast between the “outside level” and the painting within the deeper level.

Calman Shemi’s “lacquer” and “window” paintings are reminiscent of ancient techniques used to create art in Japan and China centuries ago. During the last eighteen years Shemi has held more than seventy one-man shows in the USA, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Israel. Today Shemi’s works can be seen in many public and private collections around the world.

Collections
- The Spertus Museum of Judaica
- The Chicago Fashion Institute
- King David Hotel, Jerusalem
- One Denver Place
- City Bank Corporate Offices
- Digital Computers, Israel
- Weight Watchers Corporate Headquarters, Michigan
- Giorgio Executive Offices, Beverly Hills