Enya Keshet Bio

Enya Keshet was born in Pardes Hanna, Israel. As a young woman she moved to Jerusalem, where she studied at the Hebrew University and at Bezalel Academy of Art.

After the birth of her three children, she became increasingly interested in Judaic art. Her first experience in papercutting was an experimental one, when she created a papercut illustration for a school project her daughter was working on. Her acquaintance and friendship with a traditional scribe (sofer) led her to the idea of combining the art of papercutting with the caligraphy of the Megillot (scrolls).

In 1994 she moved back to her home town of Pardes Hanna where she resides today. Enya's artwork combines papercutting with calligraphy and color illumination enhanced by gold leaf, all done by hand on parchment. In addition, Enya has developed a series of laser-cut reproductions of her papercuts, done in paper and wood. Enya has exhibited her work at various shows and Judaica fairs in the United States. Her megillot, ketubahs, and other art pieces are valued by collectors around the world.

Jewish Paper Cuts

Paper-cutting is a traditional Jewish folk-art that has almost been lost. Jews made papercuts since the middle ages, in the East-European Shtetl as well as in the North African mellah. It was a simple art, done in cheap material that everyone could afford, and reflected many aspects of daily life and holidays.

After the holocaust, Jewish paper-cutting was nearly forgotten, but it was then revived by few contemporary artists, who cut by hand, and sometimes reproduce their work by laser.

Enya Keshet’s Judaica artwork combines paper-cutting with hand calligraphy and color illumination enhanced by gold leaf, all done on parchment. In addition, Enya has developed a series of laser-cut reproductions of her Jewish papercuts, done in paper and wood. Enya has exhibited her work at various shows and Judaica fairs in the United States. Her megillot, ketubahs, and other art pieces are valued by collectors.

Among her many clients are UJC (United Jewish Communities of USA), ADL (Anti Defamation League), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, KKL-JNF, the Jewish Agency, UJA, Intel Israel, the Tel-Aviv fund, galleries in Jerusalem and more.