Amram Ebgi

On July 16, 1939, Amram Ebgi was born as the second child to Joseph and Mesode Ebgi in the city of Fez, Morocco. During this time, a greatly terrorizing chapter of North African history was taking place. The French occupation of Morocco had just diminished, and the native Arabic rule of the land seized power. Amram's parents acted quickly and enrolled him into a program named "Young Immigration to Israel."

At the age of 12, Amram departed Morocco, never again to see his family for more than 15 years. In Israel, he was sent to Kibbutz Kfar Blum, a small community that was then ran by a coalition between the Americans and the English. Amram was introduced to new "parents" and a whole different lifestyle at the kibbutz. For the first five years, he went primarily to school; His studies included Israeli cultural life, the Jewish Torah, and a new type of Hebrew language, differing from what he had normally spoken.

On his 16th birthday, Amram was presented with a coloring set by his friends. This turning point in his life led to a chronic addiction to illustration. Many times, Amram explains, "I would be yelled at by the kibbutz leader for leaving school to paint in my room." His rascality schemes to rid himself of tedious labor earned him a job painting for the kibbutz. By the age of 18, Amram was working only four days week and creating art the remaining time.

When he turned 19, Amram was inducted into the Israeli army to defend his nation in the "Six Day War." He trained to be a parachutist, and was involved in two battles, including one very decisive win by the Israelis at Golan Heights. As the dust settled, Israel had claimed victory, and Amram went back to the kibbutz.

At age 22, Amram was creating remarkable art that would be moved to a showroom, and sold. The funds that were brought in persuaded the kibbutz administrator to grant Amram a full time assignment in painting art pieces. At approximately the same time, he was given an art studio at which place he could work privately.

When Amram turned 26, the president of the Brooklyn Museum of Art visited Kfar Blum. He was abruptly escorted to Amram's studio and introduced to the young artist. Through his magnificent art work, Amram was awarded a full scholarship to the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

At the university, Amram learned many popular techniques in oil and watercolor. Shortly, he departed the Museum to study at the Pratt Graphic Art Center. At Pratt, Amram acquired understanding for etchings in addition to other art styles including silk screen, intaglio relief, and epoxy modeling (which at the time was radically neoteric.)

Upon graduating from the Pratt Graphic Center, Amram went back to Israel on a ship named "Americanis." During his three month stay, Amram saw his family for the first time in over 15 years. At this very emotional meeting, Amram was introduced to his three youngest brothers for the very first time. At the age of 29, he left Israel to initiate an entirely new life in the United States.

On the voyage back to America, Amram was introduced to another Israeli native named Pessia Baron. The two became close friends and later wedded on December 9, 1974 in New York City. As a couple, they moved to Rockville, Maryland where they started a family.

In Rockville, Amram initiated his professional life with invitations to exhibit his work in prominent art openings. With the birth of his first daughter in 1976, Amram exhibited his work at his first one man art show to cater more than 500 people.

In 1981, Amram reallocated south to Miami, Florida due to health concerns with cold climate. It was in the community of North Miami Beach that the name "Amram Ebgi" became internationally known. Yearly star exhibitions at the famed International Art Expo in New York City led to popularity that sky rocketed.

In current times, Amram's work hangs in numerous art galleries, universities, and museums throughout the world. He has grown to become one of the best known Israeli artists in American history. Through his imaginative ideas and artistic arrangements, Amram Ebgi has proven that Israeli art is not merely another folk style, but a true artistic genre.

1959-1969 Official Painter and Graphic Artist for the Kibbutz Congregation of Israel.

1965-1967 Art Department Head at the Tel-Chai Institute, Israel.

Beit Hshoah-Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, California
Florida Gulf Coast Art Center, Belleair, Florida
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama
Canton Art Institute, Canton, Ohio
Salt Lake City Art Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Del Rio Art Center, Del Rio, Texas
Laguna Beach Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, Arkansas

Washington Post
World of Art, Israel
Chicago Sun Times
Jewish Times, Baltimore, Maryland
Miami Herald, Miami, Florida
Atlanta Jewish Times, Atlanta, Georgia
Jewish Post, Yardley, Pennsylvania
Miami Jewish Tribune, Miami, Florida

Norman Brown Fine Arts Gallery, Baltimore, Maryland
Jerusalem International Judaica Fair, Jerusalem, Israel
International Art Expo, New York City, New York
International Art Expo, Los Angles, California
Pratt Graphic Center, New York City, New York
The International Fine Art Expo, Washington D.C.
Nova Terra, Columbia
Museum of Science, Miami
City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland
Gallery Kibbutz Lim, Tel-Aviv, Israel
International Exhibit for Israeli Artists, Panama