Matan Assaf (b. 1990, Israel) is a classically trained oil painter currently living and working in Jerusalem.

Raised in an Orthodox family in southern Israel, Matan’s early path was rooted in the sciences. Following three years of service in the Israel Defense Forces, he earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Bar-Ilan University. After a brief career in the high-tech sectors of Israel and Silicon Valley, he discovered a passion for classical drawing. This revelation prompted a decisive career shift and a move to Florence, Italy. There, he spent three years undergoing rigorous training in the principles of classical realism at the Angel Academy of Art, studying under Michael John Angel and Jered Woznicki, and earning his diploma in 2025.

Specializing in Portraiture and Still life, Matan’s work is a labor of visual presence. He draws inspiration from the ancient Jerusalem stone and the biblical Mediterranean landscape, combining these elements with classical techniques studied from old masters such as Michelangelo, Pietro Annigoni, and John Singer Sargent.

Ultimately, Matan’s art seeks to apply beauty and elegance on the canvas. Blended with a deep nostalgia and reverence for nature, his paintings aim to reintroduce a sense of long-lost visual grace into our daily lives.

Email [email protected]