Koketit, artist, doodle poet from Tel-Aviv, Israel. Photo © Shira Barzilay
1.Tell us what you do and your beginnings.
I am doodle obsessed, so much that I turned it into a profession. I mostly create digital art, and showcase it via Instagram daily. My signature style is one-line faces, drawn minimalistically, often over photos that ispire me. By doing so, I am changing the narrative completely, giving it my own angle. Im fascinated with being able to say more with less, and finding accuracy within my freedom.
I sell my art on my website and also collaborate with brands on exciting artistic projects. My work is autobiographical and therefore is told from a feminine point of view.
My subject is always female and focuses on the connection of one’s intuition and their surroundings, and between their façade and their subconscious. That duality is always there, which is why I often draw over photos of nature, it is the most objective canvas.
I see faces everywhere I go. on the sidewalk on cracks, on trees – so I like to point them out and give them life – it’s like revealing the unseen, exposing the subconscious. My background is in fashion. I have a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Shenkar institute, and became a freelance fashion illustrator, working with names such as Roberto Cavalli and H&M.
Overtime, my perspective on life expanded beyond the fashion lense, and a gateway opened. I started my own business about 6 years ago with temporary tattoos line that sold on my online shop. I named my brand Koketit because it meant flirty and stylish. Gradually, I moved passed the tattoos and started to create art.
2.What are your favorite museums in the world? Why?
My top three museaums are:
Tel-Aviv Museam of Art. I go there whenever i need to think and get inspired. It’s close to my home and the space itself always calms me.
The Picasso Museaum in Barcelona. Picasso is my ultimate mentor. I identify with his philosophy the most and feel like i’m his student. The visit to his museaum felt like i was being nourished and fed with his knowledge and energy and it felt like home.
And finally, the Rembrant Museaum in Amsterdam which totally took my breath away. The museum is his actual home and studio and i was so inspired by the space, all i wanted to do when i left is buy some chalk and draw by the river.
3.How important are social networks in your business? And which platform do you prefer and why.
My growth as an artist is owed to Instagram. I found a way to utilize this platform in a way that helped me find my voice, and showcased me to the world in ways I could never have been discovered otherwise. In many ways I am an Instagram artist – and proud to be one, because there are so many amazing artists within this community.
I interact with my followers and create an emotional bond with them – which makes it more natural for them to become my art patrons after. It’s the daily connection that brings us together. Like any practice, it’s the consistency that makes me more accurate and helps me keep growing. I’m constantly thinking of new ideas and challenging myself.
4.What are your future projects?
I have some really wonderful collabs out and coming soon that include A sock collection, Fragrance tattoos, Clothes collections, Unuique Koketit filters, Sneakers, tote bags, wallpapers and even luxury furniture. Each project is so unique and special and im so proud to be working on such exciting work.
5.To create greater engagement among museums, artists and professionals, do you have any advice for cultural projects such as #MuseumWeek?
I think it’s always great to engege but featuring artists works on various platforms, have talks and interviews, panels and workshops. I think its also great to give back to the community and collab with various charities to bring awareness and aid to the unfortunate.
Those who have a platform also have a responsibility and I try to remind myself of that everyday. The world has become such a tiny place via social media. I get to interact with people and brands from all over the globe and there’s nothing more satisfyling to know that art brings people together.
Interview by Fabio Pariante, journalist – Twitter
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Koketit on social networks: Instagram – Facebook – Website
Shira Barzilay aka Koketit (Tel-Aviv, 1982) is an Israeli artist, digital painter, Instagram creator – doodle poet. Thanks to her studies at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design she understood that minimalism is important to communicate effectively in a simple and precise way.
This attitude is the basis of her artistic endeavor to reveal the invisible. A few years ago Barzilay made a digital portrait for a friend, and since then her business tools have been a simple tablet and printer. The artist has collaborated with Chanel, Facebook and Amazon. Koketit lives and works in Tel-Aviv.
