Israelis continue to make their mark on an international scope, with some of the nation’s best and brightest spreading their wings and making a significant splash in technology, media, architecture, design, fashion, music and art – all over the world. We highlight some of the world’s most prominent Israeli movers and shakers:
ART/DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE
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Ron Arad
Industrial designer Ron Arad was born in Tel Aviv and studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Art and the Architectural Association in London. The artist takes an imaginative, nontraditional hybrid approach to his work, blurring the lines between architecture, design and art. He has designed innovative pieces for leading design brands worldwide, and exhibits showcasing his work have been seen at museums and galleries such as the MOMA in New York and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. His work on the Design Museum Holon has been hailed internationally, noted by the New York Times as one of Israel’s foremost, not-to-miss architectural landmarks. We certainly agree.
Moshe Safdie
Moshe Safdie is a worldrenowned architect known for his vibrant geometric shapes and use of open, green spaces. He rose to architectural stardom with his modular apartment structure, Habitat 67 in Montreal, Canada. From there he continued to break through boundaries and push the limits, inspiring young artists to imitate his work. Fun fact: He is a triple citizen of Canada, Israel and the United States, so the majority of his work is found in those three countries. Now in his 70s, he shows no signs of slowing down, with recent projects in LA, India and Singapore.
Sigalit Landau
Sculptor, video and installation artist, Sigalit has spent her career carving a creative niche for herself in the art world. Born, raised and currently living in Israel, the artist takes inspiration from her homeland. Many of her most famous and internationally admired pieces explore her native Israeli landscape in imaginative and showy ways. In her DeadSee video artwork, the artist is featured among hundreds of watermelons joined to each other by a string in the form of a floating spiral raft. Her recent works are experimental videos of colorful, hypnotizing style. Landau's work has been shown extensively at venues and fairs including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in Japan.
MODELING
Bar Rafaeli
Born in Hod Hasharon, Rafaeli started modeling at the tender age of eight months old and went on to flaunt her curves as a Sports Illustrated cover girl. Previously known, in part, for being one of Leonardo DiCaprio’s longest leading ladies, she has long since become Maxim Magazine’s number 1 pick for their Hot 100 list in 2012 and most recently caused a stir in a GoDaddy commercial aired during the 2013 Superbowl.
MUSIC
Asaf Avidan
Passionate and energetic, Asaf Avidan has taken the music industry by storm. His story started as the creative force behind the famed Israeli folk rock band, Asaf and the Mojos. In a relatively short time and without a record label, media or booking agencies, he became an international phenomenon with his hit “The Reckoning.” After a 2011 summer tour, the band announced that they would be taking a creative break and that Asaf would be going solo. Ever since, Rolling Stone Magazine has dubbed him a musical genius, saying “you might think you’re listening to Janis Joplin...but Asaf is a new messiah.”
Dana International
Dana International is a transsexual pop artist who is one of the most successful female artists coming out of Israel. Since her early start in the 90s, she has released eight albums, won Best Female Artist of the Year in Israel and participated in The Eurovision Song Contest, winning twice. Due to her unique background fused with her musical flair, Dana International quickly became a global superstar, and has been interviewed by the likes of CNN, BBC and MTV.
Infected Mushroom
Israeli bred, LA-based duo, Amit Duvdevani and Erez Eisen, have made quite the name for themselves with their pioneering psychtrance/electronica sounds. The DJ duo is one of the bestselling groups in Israel’s history and has also had international success, with tours across North America and Europe, earning the title of the world's top 100 DJs by DJ Mag. While listening to their music is incredible in itself, their complex live shows are a not-to-be-missed spectacle.
Balkan Beat Box
American-Israeli band, Balkan Beat Box, has a sound like no other. Rooted in Middle Eastern and Balkan culture, the band takes inspiration from Jamaican, Spanish and Northern African sounds. They gained fame when they toured with Jewish reggae-rapper Matisyahu, and have since preformed at festivals around the world. They are the band to turn to when looking for a completely new sound.
FILM
Gal Gadot
Gal is known for being an Israeli actress and a model. As an actress, Gadot is known for her role as Gisele Yashar in The Fast and the Furious film series. She joined the Israeli Army and completed her two years of mandatory military service. Gadot played Wonder Woman in the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and is signed for two future sequels.
Ayelet Zurer
Ayelet Zurer has been a long recognized actress in the Israeli film industry, so few Israelis were shocked to see her succeed in the Hollywood film industry. Her exotic look and acting talents made headlines in her performance in Munich and Angels and Demons. Expect to see her next as Superman’s mother in the reboot of the Superman franchise.
Mark Ivanir
Mark Ivanir, a man who started as a student of juggling for the circus, made a name for himself in Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. Since then he has appeared in American TV series such as 24, Hill Street Blues, CSI, and Alias. Although he was raised in Israel, he was born in Russia and uses his Russian language skills to translate fiction and plays from Russian to Hebrew.
Moran Atias
The sensationally seductive international model, actress, and humanitarian started her career when she was just 15 for an Israeli youth show. From then on, nothing could slow her down. She has modeled as Roberto Cavalli’s home model, won Top Model of the World, and was nominated for Best Actress in ‘Festival Sguardo al Femminile’ for her role in Days of Love. But she is more than just a pretty face. She has volunteered for various humanitarian efforts including becoming a goodwill ambassador for Israeaid.
Noa Tishbi
Noa Tishbi can captivate any audience. After getting a full scholarship at The National Museum of Arts, she went on to play the lead in Israel’s highest rated prime-time drama Ramat Aviv Gimmel in the 90s. Fans were enchanted and she has adorned billboards, movie posters and fashion magazines across Israel, Europe and the United States ever since. She has gradually evolved to work behind the camera as producer, and made history selling the first Israeli TV show, BeTipul, to an American network. HBO turned the show into a hit in the United States, known as In Treatment.
Natalie Portman
Surprised to see Oscar winner Natalie Portman on the list? The gorgeous A-lister who is celebrated for her outstanding performances in movies like Star Wars, Black Swan and The Closer, was, in fact, born in Jerusalem as Natalie Hershlag. She moved to the States as a young child and began her acting career from there. Since being discovered at age 11 in Leon: The Professional, she has played the lead in numerous blockbuster movies, won both a Golden Globe Award and Oscar for Best Actress, and became the face for Christian
Dior perfume. She recently gave birth to her first son, Aleph, named after the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
FASHION
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Lea Gottlieb
One of Israel’s major design champions, Gottlieb immigrated to Israel from Hungary after WWII and founded one of the largest swimsuit companies in the world: Gottex. Said to have even sold her wedding ring to raise money to buy fabric for her then-burgeoning company, Gottex is now one of the leading exporters of fashion swimwear to the United States.
Alber Elbaz
The legendary Artistic Director for renowned Parisian fashion house Lanvin had humble beginnings as a youth growing up in Holon. Born in Morocco, he immigrated with his parents to Israel at the age of 10, served in the Israeli Army and studied at Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. He moved to New York City and went on to work for Yves Saint Laurent, Krizia in Italy and has worked for Lanvin since 2001, receiving numerous awards over the years, including being named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
LITERATURE
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Etgar Keret
Etger Keret has a gift for the literary arts that only an elite few possess. His illustrious career is rooted in his fantastically surreal but realistic short stories that have been translated to over 22 languages. It can be said that his work has reincarnated the short story culture in Israel. Beyond short stories, his screenplays, graphic novels, and political satires have all received critical praise on an international scale. He is without a doubt one of the most famous Israeli authors of all time and hailed as the voice of young Israel.
Avi Arad and Isaac Perlmutter (owners of Marvel Comics)
Most people aren’t aware that the owners of Marvel Comics, home to favorite comic heros, Spiderman and Superman, are Israeli bred. Arad, the creative fantasy type, and Perlmutter the conservative businessman, joined forces after working at Toy Biz, a popular toy design company. Toy Biz bought Marvel and the two became the leaders of the comic book giant. While Avi Arad resigned in 2006, Perlmutter remains CEO. The two are credited with the once bankrupt company’s revival.