Merav Salomon
Visual Communication
Established Designer Award
"My illustrations are often described as quirky and naive in form, yet dark and macabre in content. They tell poetic visual stories with a distinctive artistic voice that explores profound themes such as loss, grief, trauma, identity, and memory. My artistic work is deeply rooted in illustration strategies - always an interplay between image and text. I continuously explore ways of creating visual narratives that challenge traditional reading mechanisms through juxtaposition and humor. As an illustrator and an educator, I am utterly committed to transcending boundaries across disciplines, cultures, and audiences.
Merav Salomon is an illustrator, book artist, curator, educator, and publisher with a career spanning over three decades. Her approach to illustration combines complex themes, humor, and an innovative attitude towards the physical aspects of the book. She expands the boundaries of illustration and challenges traditional norms. Salomon is the founder and chief editor of the independent publishing house "Salomon & Daughters" - dedicated to illustrated books for adults. She served as the head of the Illustration studies in the Visual Communication department at Bezalel for 11 years. Merav's illustrations have won distinguished international awards and her illustrations have been purchased and exhibited in contemporary art museums."
The jury panel’s decision:
"The Edmond de Rothschild Design Award is granted to Prof. Merav Salomon for her rich, fascinating, and pioneering work in illustration and for her many efforts that have expanded the boundaries of illustration in Israel, establishing it as a core part of contemporary culture.
Merav Salomon's work reflects a profound knowledge of art history, visual communication, printmaking, and illustration, manifesting in a distinctive and multifaceted practice. Her steady presence in the professional field for over three decades as a creator, educator, and publisher is characterized by generosity, professional curiosity, and a radical approach to traditional crafts. Her exceptional ability to tell clear, accessible, and poetic stories, challenging the hierarchy between text and image and deeply embedding the connection between them, has become a central tool for her and the entire field. The publishing house she founded, Salomon & Daughters, is a remarkable cultural initiative on both the local and international stage. It provides rare opportunities for other creators and fertile ground for ongoing dialogue between creators and audiences. Her deep commitment to teaching and improving pedagogical tools in visual communication is commendable, and its impact is evident in the local illustration field.
For her unique abilities and impressive contributions, the judging panel chose to recognize Merav Salomon's significant influence and work in preserving and deepening the practice of illustration, extending beyond the boundaries of her private studio. Prof. Merav Salomon is awarded the 2024 Edmond de Rothschild Award for Visual Communication Design in the Established Designer category".
Merav Salomon is an illustrator, book artist, curator, educator, and publisher with a career spanning over three decades. Her approach to illustration combines complex themes, humor, and an innovative attitude towards the physical aspects of the book. She expands the boundaries of illustration and challenges traditional norms. Salomon is the founder and chief editor of the independent publishing house "Salomon & Daughters" - dedicated to illustrated books for adults. She served as the head of the Illustration studies in the Visual Communication department at Bezalel for 11 years. Merav's illustrations have won distinguished international awards and her illustrations have been purchased and exhibited in contemporary art museums."
The jury panel’s decision:
"The Edmond de Rothschild Design Award is granted to Prof. Merav Salomon for her rich, fascinating, and pioneering work in illustration and for her many efforts that have expanded the boundaries of illustration in Israel, establishing it as a core part of contemporary culture.
Merav Salomon's work reflects a profound knowledge of art history, visual communication, printmaking, and illustration, manifesting in a distinctive and multifaceted practice. Her steady presence in the professional field for over three decades as a creator, educator, and publisher is characterized by generosity, professional curiosity, and a radical approach to traditional crafts. Her exceptional ability to tell clear, accessible, and poetic stories, challenging the hierarchy between text and image and deeply embedding the connection between them, has become a central tool for her and the entire field. The publishing house she founded, Salomon & Daughters, is a remarkable cultural initiative on both the local and international stage. It provides rare opportunities for other creators and fertile ground for ongoing dialogue between creators and audiences. Her deep commitment to teaching and improving pedagogical tools in visual communication is commendable, and its impact is evident in the local illustration field.
For her unique abilities and impressive contributions, the judging panel chose to recognize Merav Salomon's significant influence and work in preserving and deepening the practice of illustration, extending beyond the boundaries of her private studio. Prof. Merav Salomon is awarded the 2024 Edmond de Rothschild Award for Visual Communication Design in the Established Designer category".