Frank Meisler’s collection from the Ajara Art Museumcollection Museum

Abstract

    In October 2009 a substantial collection of works by the renowned Jewish sculptor Frank Meisler was gifted to the Ajara Art Museum by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. This diverse collection of 73 exhibits includes thematic compositions characteristic of the author, scenes of everyday life, individual portrait sculptures, biblical stories, various cult artifacts, decorative objects, examples of the animalistic genre.

   The famous sculptor was born in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland) in East Prussia in 1929. Several months prior to the outbreak of the Second World War the future artist together with other Jewish children was evacuated by the Kindertransport  to England. All his family fell victim to the Holocaust catastrophe. At different times Frank Meisler worked for the BBC. He earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Manchester. In 1960 Frank Meisler moved to Israel. The sculptor’s house and gallery are located in the artists’ quarter of the Old City of Jaffa. In 1999 the sculptor was awarded the Franz Kafka Gold Medal for his creative achievements by the Czech Academy of Art. Frank Meisler died in Tel Aviv in 2018.

   The works kept at the Art Museum include exquisite pieces of sculpture, small plastic and decorative art and conditionally fall into the following categories: so called “individual sculptures”, “Universal art” and “Judaica”.

     Original compositional thinking, a sense of time, unique ability of eloquent comprehension of character and moods of different types are characteristic features of Frank Meisler's creative work, which is accompanied by mild irony as well as a sharp sense of humour. A mention should be made that in author’s works a special expressive effect is achieved through the use of polychromatic method and inlay based on combinations of non-ferrous metals, silver plated or gilded details on surfaces of subjects and semi-precious stones. All this clearly represents the artist’s original style and individual manner.