Aleph Zed Studio
Photo: Dafa

Welcome to Aleph Zed Studio

I am Anna Zakai, a calligrapher, designer, illustrator and visual artist based in Jaffa, Israel. Letters are my passion. I base my work on a deep study of the historical scripts and consistent practice. I value good craftsmanship and a fresh perspective to the traditional arts.
Explore the gallery of my work and feel free to contact me for commissins, collaboratons or with any questions you have.
Born 1985 in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia).
Since 2010 lives and works in Israel.

Education

  • 2003 – 2009 – the Stieglitz St. Petersburg State Academy of Art and Design, Furniture Design department
  • 2009 – 2010 – Paideia, the European Institute for Jewish Studies in Stockholm, Walter Benjamin fellow

Exhibitions

  • 2011 – “Rak Rega”, The Merkaz Hamagshimim gallery, Hadassa, Jerusalem, Israel
  • 2009 – Festival of Jewish Art, Kiev
  • 2007 – Exhibition in the Museum of German Jewish history, Wiesbaden
  • 2006 – Festival of Jewish Art, St. Petersburg
  • 2006 – “Holidays”, Borey Art Gallery, St. Petersburg
  • 2006 – “Ester Room”, YESOD, St. Petersburg, Jewish Community House
  • 2005 – Festival of Jewish Art, Guild of Designer, St. Petersburg
  • 2005 – “Black & White...”, Jewish Community Center, St. Petersburg

Solo exhibitions

  • 2010, December – January 2011 – "One Stone from That Place", Ha-Martef, Jerusalem
  • 2010, April – August – "The Creation of Art", the Jewish Museum in Stockholm

Projects

  • 2009 – Final project at Steiglitz Academy: Bimah for a Reform synagogue in St. Petersburg
  • 2008 – Participated in the project “Decalogue. The Ten Commandments”, the Rare Book From St. Petersburg Publishing House
  • 2008 – Illustrations published in the Reform Siddur “Forms of Prayer”, London

Teaching and workshops

  • 2013 – present – The New Classical Art School, Tel Aviv: Calligraphy teacher
  • 2011 – Beit Ha-Tsabarit, Jerusalem: 'Dreams. Paper & wire sculpture', workshop series
  • 2010 – The Jewish Library, Stockholm: Hebrew calligraphy workshop
  • 2009 – Ulica OGI, Moscow: worksop at the Eshkolot project “Milk and Honey”, languages degustation
  • 2008 – the Museum of Urban Sculpture, St. Petersburg: worshop within the context of the International Action “Night of Museums”
  • 2008 – Eitan center for Jewish Education: leading course “Art Workshop. Hebrew Calligraphy”
  • 2008 – Bookvoed city bookstore, St. Petersburg: calligraphy workshop
  • 2005 – Guild of Designer, St. Petersburg: workshop at the Festival of Jewish Art

Experience

  • 2011 – present – Shuki Freiman handmade artwork, Jerusalem: calligraphy and illustration artist
  • 2011 – 2013 – Svetlana Livshits's set and costume studio, Tel-Aviv: painting
  • 2005 – 2009 – Eytan – center for Jewish Education; The Jewish Agency for Israel; Sha'arei Shalom Progressive Jewish Community, St. Petersburg: active youth leader, arts teacher and lecturer
  • 2005 – 2006 – Liberty furniture company, St. Petersburg: an intern designer

Publications

  • 2010, June – “Judisk Kronika” (No. 3 / 2010), Stockholm
  • 2008, March – “Utro Peterburga” daily newspaper, review on a Hebrew calligraphy workshop
  • 2006 – “Mebelniy Mir” 2(16)(“The Furniture World”), Moscow