The life of Jos Raban-de Jongh is characterized by a rich multicultural background. Born in the Netherlands, she has lived in Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Zurich, Munich, and Milan — and speaks seven languages. She initially studied medicine in the Netherlands for about two years before shifting her focus to practical art studies in Milan. Throughout her life, she has moved back and forth between two distinct worlds: technical work with medical equipment and artistic creation that derives from the depths of her soul.

Her move from classical Europe to Israel was a true culture shock. But gradually, Raban-de Jongh fell in love with Israel and its people, intrigued by the remarkable blend of cultures, the interwoven legacies, and the unique expressions born from that mix. During her first pregnancy, the artist discovered another dimension of Israeli daily life — a sense of community and belonging. It was during this period that she created her series of miniatures, Tzalmiyot (Figurines). A primal force has always been her source of boundless creative energy, together with an unshakable belief in goodness.

While engaging in the field of medical high-tech, she decided to return to her first passion — and pursued a Master’s degree in Fine Arts at the University of Haifa, studying under leading Israeli artists. The loss of close family members prompted her to commit fully to her artistic calling, and she went on to specialize in sculpture at a dedicated academy. This period of study was both refreshing and empowering — a time in which she understood that art demands tireless effort: no masterpiece is born overnight, and a true artist has no choice but to keep on working relentlessly in order to get results.

Raban-de Jongh currently lives on a kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley. It is in nature — in wide open spaces — that she finds her natural place, surrounded by animals that provide her with a meaningful refuge of serenity and daily inspiration. She brings into her art life, animals, and the vital forces that accompany her very being. That power and vitality come from within, present in her thoughts and actions, illuminating the way in which she conducts her life.

The artist loves to experiment with materials. She sculpts in iron, steel, and bronze; designs with clay and porcelain; carves in stone and wood; illustrates and paints — and for this current exhibition, she chose to “sculpt” in textiles as well. Through her exploration of different materials, she seeks to push boundaries and defy the "impossible" for any given medium.

For Raban-de Jongh, every challenge that comes to her door is meant to develop her more. This is the spirit from which her work is inspired — through animal figures, aiming to express the primal energy inherent in nature, and to embody the unique and powerful force that reveals itself differently in each being. In her hands, inanimate matter awakens to life, becoming creations that seem to breathe with vitality, where one can sense the spirit and energy of living creatures.

In her work, stallions and bulls symbolize the raw power of nature. So, too, do her depictions of women and figurines — ancient archetypes representing resilience, strength, and cultural memory — which she makes tangible and relevant to our own time.

To date, Raban-de Jongh has taken part in numerous group exhibitions in Israel and abroad. This, her first solo exhibition, offers a glimpse into the richness and diversity of her creative world — in the variety of materials she employs, the "characters" she brings center stage, and above all, in the inner strength she channels into her creations and transmits through them.

Hadar Macover MaRom

Curator