Resume

SOLO and TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2019   Art Stations of the Cross, Reinwardt Academy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, . Curators Marleen Hengelaar, Anikó Ouweneel. two-person, with assistance from Alon Nechushtan, Dan Schwartz. 

2018   Echoes: European Anti-Semitism Then and NowY.U. Museum - Education Showcase, New York, NY. two-person; sound by Dan Schwarz & Alon Nechushtan.

2016    ARt, ARchitecture & AR, AK Artist Residency, Governors Island, NY. two-person

2016    Meditations on Place, Koslowe Gallery, Mamaroneck, NY, curated by Amy Levine-Kennedy. two-person.

2015    Hidden Links: Exploring Jewish Identity, The Temple, Denver, CO, curated by Georgina Kolber / the Mizel Museum, Denver.

2015    Hidden Links: Exploring Jewish Identity, The Work of Yona Verwer and Cynthia Beth Rubin”Evergreen Arts Center, Evergreen CO, in conjunction with the Mizel Museum, Denver, CO.

2013    City Charms, Tribeca Synagogue for the Arts, New York, NY

2012    Yona Verwer, Temple Adas Israel, Sag Harbor, NY

2012    Temple Talismans, Center for Jewish Arts & Literacy, New York, NY

2002    Urim & Tumim, Russian American Cultural Center, New York, NY

1999    Yona Verwer, De Drye Swaentjes, Oisterwijk, The Netherlands

1998    Gallerie De Lachende Koe, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023

Bernard Heller Museum, NYC. One Nation, Curator Phyllis Freedman.

Riverside Church, NYC, Genesis: The Beginning of Creativity, Curators; Joel Silverstein, Richard McBee, Abigail Myers, Goldie Gross, Susan Maishlish

2022  

Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.,Samaritans: A Biblical People, Curator Steven Fine

Y.U. Museum, NYC. Jewish Artists Encounter Samaritan Culture, Curator Steven Fine

Bernard Heller Museum, NYC, Holy Sparks: Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate

Skirball Museum, Cincinnati, Holy Sparks: Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate.

2021   

Bernard Heller Museum, NYC, Relative Relations

2020

DAC ACM SIGGRAPH Origins + Journeys Online Exhibition - juried by ACM SIGGRAPH DACArt at First, New York, NY, Save the Earth. Curators Barbra Sherman and Fran Beallor.

Institut für Alles Mögliche, Berlin, Germany, i am. an immigrant. Curator Dorit Jordan Dotan.

2019

JADA Art Fair, Miami, FL. Curated by Jonatas Chimen and Dana Blickensderfer..

Amstelkerk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Spinoza: Marrano of Reason. Curators Billha Zussman, Goldie Gross and Janet Heit.

Repair The World, Brooklyn, NY, Celebrating Jewish Women. Curated by Julian Voloj.

Stanton St Shul, New York, NY, The Stanton 11. Curated by David Wander.

Space X, New York, NY, The NY Boring Company. Curated by Adrian Wilson and Anna-Mikalea Ekstrand.

2018

Manny Cantor Center, New York, NY, On The Consequences of Hate Speech. Curator Rachel Kanter.

Detour Gallery, Red Bank, NJ, The Invisible Jew. Curator Goldie Gross.

Derfner Museum, Riverdale, NY, Jerusalem Between Heaven and Earth. Curator Ori Z. Soltes. Organized by Susan Chevlowe. 

2017

Jerusalem Biennale, Jerusalem, IsraelJerusalem Between Heaven and Earth. Curator Ori Z. Soltes for the Jewish Art Salon.

Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT. Natural Instincts. Curated by Goldie Gross.

Evanston Art Center, Evanston, ILFar From The Front Lines. Curator Dorit Jordan Dotan.

Belskie Museum of Art and Science, Closter, NJ. Personal Renaissance. Curator Sheryl Intrator.

Rio II Gallery, NYC. Women in the Heights - Disruption. Curator Andrea Arroyo.

2016

Abrazo Interno Gallery, Clemente Cultural Center, NYC. Trees of Life and Evil Eyes. Curators Tine Kindermann and Deborah Ugoretz.

USC - Hillel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Dimensions of Spirituality – Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Curators Richard McBee and Aimee Rubensteen.

Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod, Israel. New York / New Work: Contemporary Art From NYC. Curators Dvora Liss and David Sperber.

2015 

Jerusalem Biennale, Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem, Israel. New York / New Work: Contemporary Art From NYC. Curators Dvora Liss and David Sperber.

Art Kibbutz NY, Governor’s Island, NYShmita ArtFest. Curator Leah Caroline.

Manny Cantor Center, New York, NY. ALL | TOGETHER | DIFFERENT. Curator Linda Griggs, Yona Verwer

NOMAA Gallery, New York, NY. Women in the Heights: The Human Essence. Curator Andrea Arroyo.

2014

The New Museum, New York, NY. Draftsmen’s Congress. Residency Project by Art Kibbutz. Project by Pawel Althamer. 

Canton Museum of Art, Canton, OH. Sacred Voices. Curator Michele Waalkes.

Anne Frank Center USA, New York, NY. Faith & Form: Addressing Intolerance & Anti-Semitism. Curator Yvonne Simons.

2013

Y.U. Museum, New York, NY, It’s a Thin Line: The Eruv and Jewish Community in New York and Beyond. Curator Zachary Paul Levine.

Synagogue for the Arts, New York, NY, Touched by the Holocaust. Curator Ellen D. Newman.

Brooklyn College Hillel, Brooklyn, NY, Breath / Breadth. Curated by Maria Rand and Jewish Art Now.

Riverside Library, New York, NY, Provocateur. By the Women’s Caucus for Art.

2012

Caldwell College, Caldwell, NJ. Blessed are the Artists: Spirituality and Religion in Contemporary Art, Curator Yulia Tikhonova.

Holocaust Memorial Center, Farmington Hills, MI, Silent Witnesses: Synagogues Transformed, Rebuilt or Abandoned.

UJA Federation, New York, NY, The Dura Europos Project II. Curators Joel Silverstein, Richard McBee.

Temple University / Hillel, Philadelphia, PA, Transcending History: Moving Beyond the Legacy of Slavery and Holocaust.

Ramath Orah, New York, NY, Kadosh. Curated by Tobi Kahn.

2011

JTS, New York, NY, Ushpizin, Curated by Tobi Kahn.  

Ernest Rubinstein Gallery, New York, NY, Embodied Light: 9-11 in 2011, Collaboration with Tobi Kahn.

Mizel Museum, Denver, CO, 4000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks, Curator Georgina Kolber. 

JCC, Reading PA, 9-11 Memorial Exhibit, Curator Marilyn Fox.

Industry City Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, Terror: Artists Respond.

Blank Rome, Philadelphia, PA, Transcending History: Moving Beyond the Legacy of Slavery and Holocaust.

JCC of Greater New Haven, New Haven, CT, M’Dor L’Dor.

2010  

Flomenhaft Gallery, New York, NY, Generation D: Identity, Curators Elke Reva Sudin & Julian Voloj.

Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art, Philadelphia, PADura Europos Project, Curators Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee.  

Industry City, Brooklyn, NY, Warehouse Art Rave, Curator Elke Sudin.              

Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT, Seduced by the Sacred, Curators Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee.   

Stanback Museum, Orangeburg, SC, Transcending History: Moving Beyond the Legacy of Slavery and Holocaust.

Reginald Lewis Museum, Baltimore, MD,Transcending History: Moving Beyond the Legacy of Slavery and the Holocaust.

Vivant Art Collection, Philadelphia, PA,Transcending History: Moving Beyond the Legacy of Slavery and the Holocaust.

Educational Alliance, New York, Faculty Exhibit.

2009   

John Slade Ely House for Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT, Cultural Heritage Artists Project.

Bronfman Center Gallery, New York, Arts on the Move.

CWOW Gallery, Newark, NJ, Wall to Wall.

Stanton Street Shul, New York, Tzelem, Curators Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee.

2007   

Educational Alliance, New York, Made in the USA, Curator David Gibson.    

Makor Gallery, New York, 10 x 10, Curators Ofri Cnaani & Ayelet Aldouby.

Kraft Center, Columbia University, New York, words within, Curator Laura Kruger.

Rubin Gallery, Boston University, Boston MA, words within

2006   

Makor Gallery, New York, Amendicons

Haven Arts, The Bronx, NY, Amendicons

Redhead (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), New York, Speed Limit.

Skirball Center, New York, The Universal and the Particular.

CUE Art Foundation, New York, Nurturing the Edge.

2005   

Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica,CA, Incognito

Ch’i Contemporary Fine Art, Williamsburg, Bklyn, Artists Aid Orleans

Spike Gallery, New York, Nurturing the New ‘05

Makor Gallery, New York, Wandering, Curator Anat Litwin.

2004   

Andy Warhol Factory Building, New York, The After Light

Streit’s Matzo Factory, New York, Shared

2003  

Galerie Lelong, New York, Postcards from the edge  

2001   

Russian American Cultural Center, D.U.M.B.O./Bklyn, NY, Dumbo Double  Deuce, Curator Regina Khidekel. 

Consulate General of the Russian Federation, New York, Détente

Bodi Modern Art, Newport, R.I. Spring

2000   

The Bronx Museum of the Arts, NYC, Good Business is the Best Art

Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA

Center for Jewish History, NYC, The Sephardic Woman

Monster Meubel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Dyke Synagogue

1998   

Landon Gallery, New York, Portraits

1997   

PS 122 Gallery, New York

1993   

Peconic Gallery, Riverhead, NY, Imagination, Juror Gail Levin.

59 Franklin Street, New York, OIA Salon Show

Venue Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Collector’s Parlor

1992   

Port of History Museum, Philadelphia, PA, Con-struc-tures

Carolyn Roy Gallery, New York, Inaugural Exhibition

1991   

PS 122 Gallery, New York, Portrait Show

F.A.N. Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, Inaugural Exhibition

1990   

The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, The Artist in the Marketplace, Curator Laura Hoptman.

PS 122 Gallery, New York, Duality

PUBLICATIONS

Yona VerwerThe Jewish Art Salon, Perspectives, Association of Jewish Studies, Summer 2021.

Matthew Baigell, Jewish Identity in American Art: A Golden Age since the 1970s, April 2020

Ori Z SoltesModern Jewish Art, Brill Press 2018.

Ori Z. SoltesTradition and Transformation: Three Millennia of Jewish Art and Architecture, Canal St Press, 2016. 

David Sperber & Dvora Liss, New York / New Work, Catalog, September 2015

Ram Ozeri, The Jerusalem Biennale, Catalog, September 2015, Jerusalem, Israel

Samuel Gruber, Ruth Gruber, Aaron Rosen & Others, Cultural Heritage Artists Project II, Catalogue, March 2012, Detroit MI.

Marilyn Fox, Curator, We Remember: 9-11 10th Anniversary, Catalogue, September 2011, Penn State.

Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee, Curators, The Dura Europos Project, Catalogue, December 2010, New York.

Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee, Curators, Seduced by the Sacred, Catalogue, October 2010, New York.

Hasia Diner, Walter Cahn, Hana Iverson, Karen Shiff, Cynthia Beth Rubin,  Cultural Heritage Artists Project I, December 2009

Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee, Curators, Tzelem, Exhibition Catalog, November 2009, New York

Laura Kruger, Curator HUC Museum, Words Within, Exhibition Catalog, February 2007, New York

Karen Harris, Director of Marymount Manhattan College Gallery, course entitled "An Issue of Identity: Reconstructing the Self, Images by Women Artists, 1970-the Present," 1994.

Fred AdelsonCon-struc-tures, Catalog, Port of History Museum, Philadelphia, 1993

Gail Levin, Curator, Imagination, Catalog, Peconic Gallery, Riverhead NY, 1993

Laura Hoptman, Curator, The Artist in the Marketplace X, Catalogue, Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1990, New York

 

PRESS

Omnes MagazineArnoud Boerwinkel, "Als een pilgrim langs Amsterdam's Kruis Staties". 

Jewish Standard, Art as food for the soul - Two Jewish artists from very different backgrounds collaborate in Montclair and the Jewish Art SalonJoanne Palmer, Oct. 22, 2020

MosaicThere's Plenty of Significant Contemporary Jewish Art Hiding in Plain SightRichard McBee, May 24, 2019 

Art & TheologyWalking the Via Dolorosa through AmsterdamVictoria Emily Jones, April 9, 2019

Het Parool, Om bij stil te zijn: lijden van deze tijd, Edo Dijksterhuis, March 6, 2019

The Independent, Hope Challenges Hate SpeechJoan Baum, January 22, 2019

NY Jewish WeekArt At The Heart Of Stanton St. RevivalShira Hanau, January 16, 2019

NY Jewish Week‘Echoes’ Of Dutch Anti-Semitism, Then And NowSandee Brawarsky, December 26, 2018

NJ Jewish StandardHow to be a vegan Jewish artistAbigail Klein-Leichman, October 4, 2018, 

NY Jewish WeekLeah FinkelshteynNew Art Exhibit Highlights Increasing Invisibility of Women in Jewish Media, July 11, 2018

NY Jewish Week, Aaron HermanJewish Comic Con Comes To Brooklyn, April 27, 2018

NJ Jewish StandardJoanne PalmerFrom Jerusalem to Riverdale, February 2018.

Sh’ma Now, cover, Susan Berrin, Editor, Mezuzot | מזוּזֹת| Reminders, February 2018.

Contact MagazineSteinhardt FoundationThe Book of Yona - The Art of Yona Verwer, Fall 2017.

Times of Israel, Jessica Steinberg, A ‘watershed’ moment for artists at the Jerusalem Biennale, Oct. 7, 2017.

NJ Jewish StandardJoanne Palmer, Jewish Art Salon Rockets To Teaneck, June 22, 2017.

NY Jewish Week, Joel SilversteinLayering History And Spontaneous ExpressionSeptember 2016.

Jewish in SeattleAnca L. Szilagyi, Art After Auschwitz, April / May 2016

Bedford + BoweryLindsey SmithLES Artists ‘Still Looking Quirky and Funky’ at This New Exhibit.February 13, 2015

Huffington Post, S. Brent PlateReligion Is Alive and Well In Contemporary Art, August 18, 2014

Zeek, Artist Q, Artist A: Yona Verwer Talks to Mirta Kupferminc, May 31, 2014

Sh’ma Journal, The Self and Creativity, Basya Schechter, S. Bear Bergman & Yona Verwer May 2014

Zeek, Artist Q, Artist A: Yona Verwer Talks to Ken Goldman, April 24, 2014

The Jewish Channel TVMeredith Ganzman, Faith & Form (Week in review), February 21, 2014

NY Jewish Week, Gloria Kestenbaum, Anne Frank and her Disciples, January 16, 2014

Hadassah MagazineAaron Rosen, Ph.D., United (Jewish) Artists, December 2013

The NY Jewish WeekCaroline Lagnado, Two Artists Address Difficult Issues in Tribeca Exhibit, October 2013

TachlesJulian Voloj, Successful Artists Network, June 2013

Lilith Magazine, Our Violent Children, features “Protection Amulet Pewter”, Spring 2013 

Skirball Center Catalog features “Orach Chaim Blue” on its cover and “Stanton Shul Amulet”, Spring 2013

Shma Journal Online Gallery, A Jewish Lens on Taxation, featured “In God We Trust”, March 2013

The NY Jewish Week, Gloria Kestenbaum “The Eruv: Staying Within Bounds”, February 26, 2013 

Jewish Press, Richard McBee, It’s a Thin Line - The Eruv and Jewish Community in New York and beyondJanuary 11, 2013

Reform Jewish QuarterlyOri Z. Soltes, Text and Commentary: Contemporary Jewish ArtWinter 2013 

Ars Judaica, Matthew Baigell, Social Concern and Tikkun Olam in Jewish American Art, May 2012

Alpha & Omega ArtsErnest Disney-Britton, Counting the Omer, with Yona Verwer and Tobi Kahn, May 7

Jewish Exponent, Deborah Hirsch, Hillel Displays Slavery / Holocaust Art, March 19, 2012

Jewish Press, Richard McBee, Terror: Artists Respond, September 2, 2011 

ZeekOri Z. Soltes, February 2010: Slavery and the Holocaust.

Art CriticismMatthew Baigell, Volume 24, Number 2, ’09: Contemporary Jewish Art: A Short Review.

Zeek, Yona Verwer, December 2009: Temple Talismans.

Jewish Press, Richard McBee, December 31, 2009 The Prayer of the Orchard St Shul.

Sh’ma MagazineYona Verwer, November, 2009, The Kabbalah of Bling.

2Life Magazine, Julian Voloj, November 25, 2009, Yona Verwer at C.H.A.P

The Jewish Week, June 5, 2009, Text / Context: Photo: Stanton St Shul Amulet.

Jewish PressMenachem Wecker, May 30, 2009, The Amulet, the Temple, the Disfigured Book, and the Butterflies.

Pajamasmedia, Phyllis Chesler, May 15, 2009, Consolation in a Time of Madness.

Zeek, November 2007: Photos

IconiaMenachem Wecker, May 10, 2007, Yona Verwer.
Jewess, Rebecca Honig Friedman, May 8, 2007, Jewess Bling ArtistYona Verwer.

NY Daily News, Clem RichardsonApril 16, 2007, Charms of New York in her Art.

Jewish Press, Menachem Wecker, March 23, 2007, Jewish Women Talk about their Work.

The Jewish Week, Carolyn SlutskyJanuary 12, 2007Art on the Rise.

The Forward, Sarah Kricheff, July 15, 2005, Modern Amulets.

The New YorkerBoris Fishman, July 29, 2002, Goings on about Town – Yona Verwer. 

The ForwardZack Berger, Yona Verwer and her paintings of the Urim & Tumim.

Jewish PressRichard McBee, July 5, 2002Yona Verwer.

The NY TimesWilliam Zimmer, May ’90, Sculpture Dominates in Annual Show of Emerging Artists.

NRC HandelsbladReineke Hollander, July 1990, The Real and the Faux Work of Yona Verwer. 

PANELS & TALKS

2021
Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Museum Moment - Tu B’Shevat, with Cynthia Beth Rubin. Moderator Molly Dubin, Curator, Jewish Museum Milwaukee.

2020

Jewish Art Salon Open Studios, moderated and/or organized 20 virtual art presentations with artists and curators.

2019
92 St Y, New York, NY, Spinoza in our Time (Conney Conference). Moderator Ori Z. Soltes.
92 St Y, New York, NY, Anti-Semitism and Jewish Art (Conney Conference). Moderator Ruth  Weisberg.
Suffolk Y JCC, Commack, NY, Today’s Jewish Art: How Contemporary Jewish Artists are Revolutionizing the Art World. 

2018
Riverside Church, NYC, Interfaith Discussion at Stations of the Cross Exhibit. Moderator Dr. Carolyn Rosen, Panelists Siona Benjamin and Dua Abbas. Hosted by Rev. Ellen Robinson. Introduction by Yona Verwer.

2016
Koslowe Gallery, Mamaroneck, NY, Artist Talk with Cynthia Beth Rubin.
2015
The American Sephardi Federation, NYC, Blue Like Me. Panelists Siona Benjamin and Ryan Arey. Moderator Yona Verwer.  
The Jerusalem Biennale, Van Leer Institute / Polonsky Academy, New York / New Work. Panelists Richard McBee, Cynthia Beth Rubin, Yona Verwer, David Wander.  Moderator Dvora Liss.
2014

The Equity Project Charter School, NYC, Artist in Residence
2013
Y.U. Museum, NYC, Curator’s Talk with Zachary Paul Levine.

Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, Falls Village, CT, Revolutionizing the Jewish Art Community.
Y.U. Museum, NYC, It’s a Thin Line. Panelists: Ben Schachter and Yona Verwer. Moderator Ilana Benson.
2012
Columbia / Barnard Kraft Center, NYC, Jewish Narrative Art. Panelists: Eden Morris, Joel Silverstein, Elke Reva Sudin, Yona Verwer. Moderator Richard McBee. December 17.
Limmud NY, Radical Jewish Art and Community. Panelists: Patricia Eszter Margit of Art Kibbutz,Rabbi Greg Wall of the 6th St Shul, Yona Verwer of the Jewish Art Salon. Moderator Marc Michael Epstein. January 15.

2011
The Jewish Museum, NYC, Dutch Jewish Art Today. November 7.
JCC Manhattan, NYC, Jewish Diversity in Art, with Prof. Matthew Baigell, Siona Benjamin, and Lacey Schwartz. Moderated by Yona Verwer. June 27
Y.U. Museum, NYC, Panel Discussion Dura Europos: Then and Now - Contemporary Appropriations of Biblical Themes. With Stephen Fine, Ori Z. Soltes, Richard McBee & Joel Silverstein. March 14.
Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art - Conference of the Council of American Jewish Museums. A new creative spirit: How contemporary Jewish artists are forming partnerships with American Jewish museums, synagogues and institutions. With Ori Z. Soltes, Cynthia Beth Rubin, Richard McBee & Joel Silverstein. February 28.

2010    
Brandeis House, NYC, Women’s Council Speaker Series
Congregation Mt. Sinai, NYC, Artists at Mt Sinai. 

2009
Lower Manhattan Arts Academy, NYC, November 15th.
14 Street Y, NYC, Tzelem: Likeness and Presence in Jewish Art, with Tobi Kahn, Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee. May 10th. (LABA Festival).
Stanton Street Synagogue, NYC, Women & Jewish Artwith Gail Levin, Siona Benjamin, Rachel Kanter & Janet Shafner. Moderated by Ori Z. Soltes. May 3rd.
Stanton Street Synagogue, NYC, Mima’amakim. April 28th

14 Street Y, NYC, Jewish Art Salon. March 29th

Stanton Street Synagogue, NYC, Tzelem: Likeness and Presence in Jewish Art, with Joel Silverstein & Richard McBee. March 16th.

2007
Educational Alliance, NYC, Made in the USA, moderated David Gibson.

2005 
Makor / Steinhardt Center, NYC, Wandering, moderated by Dominique Nahas.

ART RESIDENCIES
2016        AK International Residency Program, Governors Island, NY
2014        New Museum - with Art Kibbutz, New York 
2007        Makor / Steinhardt Center, New York
2006-07   S.A.R., Bronx, New York
2005        Skirball Center, New York
2005        Makor / Steinhardt Center, New York
1990        Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
1989-91   PS 122 Studio Program, New York

PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2017    Chelsea Community Mikvah, NYC
2008   SAR High School, Riverdale, NY

TELEVISION / RADIO
WBAI 99.5 FM, Cat Radio Cafe, March 8 and 9, 2015
The Jewish Channel, Faith & Form, Feb 21, 2014
Russian television, channels NTV, RTN and MW, Dumbo Double Deuce, 2001

CURATION & PRODUCTION Art Events and Workshops here 

PRODUCING Art Workshops & Events. Full list here.

OTHER ART RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

2000-Current: Art Event Planner 
2008-Current: Co-founder / Director Jewish Art Salon
2013-2017: Art Consultant COJECO Blueprint Fellowship, NYC

2015-2019: Art Educator Jewish Journeys, NYC

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Executive Board Jewish Art Salon
Advisory Committee JADA Arts
Member New York Artists Circle.

EDUCATION

Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague, The Netherlands: M.F.A.

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