Art — Miriam Anzovin

Portraits

Beruriah

Created for “SEEN: Jewish Women Illustrate Jewish Women,” a project of Chochmat Nashim.

“In learning the Talmud, it is rare to come across a woman who is named in the text. It is even more rare to have a woman with a name who was ALSO a sage. A female sage who outpaced her male peers, once learning 300 halachot in a single overcast day. Beruriah.

There are stories not only of her scholarship but also of her deep personal tragedies, her bravery, her heart, her brilliant dry wit, scalpel-sharp.

I look to Beruriah and I see the foremother of all women who learn Talmud to this day. So I decided to depict her in a moment many of us would recognize: Learning at a table, reviewing her notes, deep in thought. It is a moment of solitude but not loneliness for her, of shutting out the turmoil of the world, completely content to be immersed in her mind, in the words of Torah. This is what she wants to do, was born to do.

Where would we be, those of us who study Talmud and are not men, without Beruriah? I don’t know. And I’m so glad we don’t have to find out. Because Beruriah lives on in each of us, every time we sit down to learn.”

To purchase, please click here.

Judith

Created for “SEEN: Jewish Women Illustrate Jewish Women,” a project of Chochmat Nashim.

“When I think of the story of Judith, I think of the line “All the glory of the king’s daughter is internal” — כל כבודה … and how often women are told to stay home, stay quiet, stay unseen. But here is a Jewish woman who became a hero and saved her people by doing exactly the opposite – knowing when, sometimes, one must take bold action, one must be brave. I also chose Judith because of how the story centers two women working together to achieve the goal – Judith and her maid, who I have depicted side by side, partners in the events of the Judith story

Women rely on other women, and although Judith took the leadership role and initiative, her maid went with her as a team. They leave the tent of Holofernes triumphant, the maid looking back with a small smile at their unexpected achievement.

Judith looks to the horizon, and looks forward to telling her people they are saved. Both of these women are proud, as they should be, of what they accomplished when men were too afraid to get the job done

Judith is a personal hero to me as she is to many Jewish women, and in her I find inspiration for the type of Jewish woman I want to be – know when to follow my heart, know when I CAN achieve something even when the rest of the world thinks I can’t, and be willing to risk everything for Am Yisroel.”

Prints can be purchased here.

A Girl and Her Fox

Pencil, and white gel pen

Neighborhood Animals

Black, white, and metallic ink

Neighborhood Animals II

Black, white, and metallic ink

Bukharan Jewish Woman

Pencil

Tamar

Black and silver sharpie and pencil

Adele Portrait

Pencil portrait based on the Rolling Stone issue 1248 cover photograph of Adele.

Sansa

Portrait of Miriam's dog Sansa, painted in Adobe Photoshop

Madonna of the Rubber Chicken Head

A commissioned portrait featuring Miriam's friend and her daughter in the style of Raphael's Madonnas. Adobe Photoshop painting.

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl

Pen and ink and Adobe Illustrator.

Face Sketch

Portrait of a Bride

Pen and Ink on Bristol board.

Commissioned Wedding Portrait

20"x16" portrait. Adobe Illustrator

Sasha

Commissioned pet portrait. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

Rose

Imagining an ancestor. Pencil and paper.

The Art of Daf Reactions

Vector and traditional media art inspired by #DafReactions, #ParshaReactions, and Miriam’s other video series.

Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah

Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah - AKA the Daughters of Zelafchad! These five porto-feminist sisters are a big mood. They are famous in the Torah for standing up in front of the entire Israelite community and filing a Title IX complaint with Moses about misogynistic inheritance laws! Their story is told in #ParshaReactions Pinchas. Pencil/ink/graphite/digital art illustration by Miriam Anzovin. Purchase as merch here!

Let's F**king Golem

Celebrate the Golem, an iconic creature from Jewish folklore, symbolic of Jewish self-defense, survival, and vengeance! The "Let's F**king Golem" phrase is from "the Elder Millennials of Zion hotline" video series by Miriam Anzovin. Available at her merch store, here.

"Go Tell it to a Carob Tree That Gives A F*ck!"

Exactly what we say to people like Rabbi Eliezar Ben Hyrcanus, from the famous Oven of Ahknai story, who don't think women should learn Torah or Talmud. Purchase as merch here!

(Daf Reactions Bava Metzia 59: The Oven of Ahknai)

The Daf Reactions Project logo

Featuring social media motifs (the like button, chat icon, play, and pause buttons) connected with a Jewish star.

The Bamid-Bar

The Bamid-Bar: A nightclub oasis in the desert, owned by Moses. Serving beer, wine, manna, and quail since 2448. Conveniently located if you've been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years! From #DafReactions: Nedarim 38/39. Purchase as merch!

Yalta Smash!

Yalta is the OG baddie of the Talmud. When disrespected by the sage Ulla, Yalta went and smashed 400 barrels of wine to make her point. Yalta is an icon of destroying the Patriarchy! This print is from an original pencil and charcoal illustration. Available here as prints and merch!

I Work for Big Talmud

Shocking, but true! Turns out I’ve been working secretly for the patriarchy THE WHOLE TIME. From #DafReactionsReactionReactions 3 (AKA “Comment Reactions 3). Available as merch here!

“I'm a Rav Hisda Stan, Ride or Die”

A classic declaration from #DafReactions: Mo'ed Katan 9! For all the Rav Hisda stans out there :-). Purchase as merch here!

Pop Art Shalom Friends

Shalom, friends. Welcome to this merch! (Some of you wanted my judgmental eyebrows. Here ya go!)

In the Clouds "Shalom, Friends!"

Shalom, friends! But this time with an ice cream vibe. Purchase as merch here!

Cool Gradient #DafReactions Talmud Faves

My favorites from the Talmud! Yalta, Beruriah, Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish, Rav Chisda, and, of course....Chad, incredibly inept assistant to the Angel of Death. Obvi. Purchase this design on merch here!

Warm Gradient #DafReactions Talmud Faves

Vector Fine Art

Ode to The Grammar of Ornament

16 x 20"

Anguish 2011

Self portrait, 20"x16" Adobe Illustrator

Pulse

Created after the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in June 2016.

Deep Roots

16"x20" Adobe Illustrator

Insidious Reborn

Adobe Illustrator, gold metallic pen.

Back to Basics

20x20

Vector Art

Umber

36"x24" Adobe Illustrator

Caged

20"x16" Adobe Illustrator

The Muse

20"x20" Adobe Illustrator, based on a pencil sketch.

Rotten To The Core

20"x20" Adobe Illustrator

Ezekiel Saw The Wheel

8"x10" Adobe Illustrator

Published in The Queens College Journal of Jewish Studies, Volume XIII

Not Dead Yet

The silhouette of a dead tree, juxtaposed with lively patterns and decorative design providing the substance of the tree's form. Adobe Illustrator.

Itty Bitty Demon

20"x20" Adobe Illustrator

Noise

20"x20" Adobe Illustrator

Dragon

20"x16" Adobe Illustrator

Morris The Owl

Adobe Illustrator

Commissioned nursery wall image incorporating the signature owl motif of the room.

Sephardic Squares

8"x10" Adobe Illustrator
Published in The Queens College Journal of Jewish Studies, Volume XIII

OrnaMENTAL

Adobe Illustrator

Angel of Death I

20"x16" Adobe Illustrator

Angel of Death II

The Eclectic Gallery

A selection of finished artwork and special projects close to Miriam's heart, plus a few examples of Miriam's sketches

Zone Out

Pen, ink, and Instagram filter

The Origin of Species: Sansa on Sefari #1

Adobe Photoshop

Sansa, Miriam's dog, goes on a photoshopped adventure to meet an ancestor.

Sansa and the Foxes: Sansa on Sefari #2

Adobe Photoshop

Sansa, Miriam's dog, goes on a photoshopped adventure to meet her Vulpine cousins.

Sansa and the Sea Lions: Sansa on Sefari #3

Adobe Photoshop

Sansa, Miriam's dog, goes on a photoshopped adventure to meet some sea lions that share a surprising familial resemblance to her!

The Hollow

Pen and Ink

Deer Friends

Pen and ink and Adobe Illustrator.

Sansa and a herd of deer who live nearby, with whom she shares her aesthetic.

Eye Sketch

"Neighborhood Bully"

Commissioned illustration of Bob Dylan’s silhouette and the lyrics to “Neighborhood Bully.”

Franklin Through History

One dog’s journey.

Sketch of "The Muse"

The Threat

In the style of Caravaggio's "Judith Beheading Holofernes". Bic pen and whiteout on cardboard.

Illuminated Manuscript

Commissioned commemorative wedding illustration, featuring the bride and groom's vows, rings, and flowers from their ceremony. Created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Dragon Tattoo Design

Adobe Illustrator

Commissioned tattoo design.

Ocean Icon

Social Media Images

Sukkot Instagram Image

Yom Kippur Instagram Image

Pride Month Greetings

Cheesecake Recipe Roundup Instagram image

Passover greetings for Instagram

Tu BiShvat holiday greetings for Instagram

Spring Greetings

Fall Greetings

Summer Greetings

Rosh Hashanah Image

Shavuot Greetings

A JewishBoston Pickle

Superbowl

Mazel Tov Red Sox

Rosh Hashanah Greetings

Let's Talk Israel: Ben-Gurion

Let's Talk Israel: Golda

Let's Talk Israel: David Bowie

Let's Talk Israel: Michaelangelo's David

Let's Talk Israel: Herzl

One of a series of sharable images featuring famous historical figures wearing a "Let's Talk Israel" T-shirt or with the tagline "Give a Shirt About Israel". The goal of the campaign was to encourage college students to "Talk Israel" in a humorous and light hearted way. The logo was designed by Miriam for The David Project.

Created in Photoshop.