The art of Eli Zagoria
November 29, 2018 by Eli Rabinowitz
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Perth artist Eli Zagoria died in 2013 and an exhibition of his work will run until December 15 at the City of Wanneroo Gallery.
The City of Wanneroo Market in 1993, where Eli Zagoria (1922-2013) had his spot as a Portrait Artist.
Eli started drawing and painting as a child in Riga, where he was born in 1922.
David Solly Sandler and Eli Rabinowitz
Years later, as an Allied POW in Germany during WWII, Eli met a professional artist, British POW, Ray Newell. Ray gave him lessons and encouragement to take up art as a profession and many years later Eli started a commercial art business in Zimbabwe, alongside his continued art practice.
Eli was able to capture the likeness of his subjects very quickly and these quick portraits became his speciality. He sketched an estimated 15,000 portraits over his lifetime at various venues in Southern Africa and Perth.
In 1992 Eli and his wife migrated to Perth where he practised as a full time artist. He continued to produce many award winning paintings for multiple exhibitions around Western Australia.
During the early 1990s Eli was a ‘court artist’ for Channels 7 and 9 and The West Australian. In addition, he was a portrait artist at Wanneroo Market, the week-end markets in Perth’s cultural precinct and Napoleon Street, Cottesloe.
Wanneroo Exhibition
This exhibition displays Eli’s work over decadesand from various locations with many different subjects, techniques and styles. These include
· Abstracts in oil on Perspex or board
· Sketches, watercolours and prints of Perth and surrounds
· Paintings and prints from South Africa and Zimbabwe
· Flower paintings and experimental flower prints
Eli’s art is from the collection of David Solly Sandler
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