Navot Miller: Artist Yeshiva
Every Pride, Havurah highlights the work of talented queer Jewish artists who are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be Jewish and LGBT. This June, we’re taking a look at the work of Navot Miller, a master of play in identity, in this special edition of Artist Yeshiva.
Navot Miller
Navot Miller, a Berlin based artist, is a powerhouse in the world of contemporary art due to his vivid, insightful, and inspiring pieces that are heavily influenced by his Jewish identity and upbringing. Born in 1991, Miller grew up in a Religious Zionist settlement in the West Bank. His youth was framed within a community adherent to tradition, which often posed challenges for those who differed from the norm. The young Miller deviated from most others in the community; he loved the Spice Girls, the color pink, and many more ‘different’ things.
Miller's educational journey in art began in Berlin, where he initially studied architecture at the University of the Arts (UdK) before transitioning to Weissensee Art School to complete a MFA. It was during these formative years that he honed his distinctive style, characterized by a bold and experimental use of color. This technique has become a hallmark of his work, allowing him to explore and express the vibrant interplay of his past and present selves.
Navot Miller
Upon concluding his academic career, Miller sought to make a unique impact in the art world, deliberately intertwining his Jewish heritage in his bright-colored queer world. He consistently references Judaism, and its culture, within his works. Even though he was not able to express his true self in his past, he feels a unique obligation to remember, reference, and embrace it. Miller articulated this ethos in an interview with Havurah:
“I am, whether I want it or not, a product of what my life brought me to be today.”
Miller frequently references his past throughout his work; Peyos, ritual objects, Hebrew letters, Charedim, and other icons of Jewish life saturate Miller’s colorful paintings.
Rather than suppressing his religious upbringing in his now queer, vivid world, Miller does the opposite. He redefines his Jewish identity within his artwork and embraces it. Miller uses art as a medium to relay his love and fondness of his past, and his Jewish religion.
Click to Enlarge Paintings
Miller's work also ventures into broader societal commentary, challenging the constraints of labels and the conflicts they often precipitate. Through his art, he critiques community labels its tendency to obscure individuality. Miller’s work imagines a world in which every person is truly unique, and that we must acknowledge individuality past label collectively. His depictions aim to expand the viewer's understanding of diversity, emphasizing that personal and cultural identities are multifaceted and often non-conforming to traditional stereotypes.
Miller strives to paint a world where traditional Jewish life can be seen in tandem with modernity, suggesting that the two can enhance rather than contradict each other. He wants people to acknowledge their literal surroundings, even if it is uncomfortable. Miller widens the viewers worldview through his work, “Yep! This exists as well, a rabbi with 13 kids wearing Gucci boots.”
“The religion that I very much love, and the way I am in this world…do not really clash with each other, rather [they] coexist in harmony.”
Miller does not want Judaism to be shackled to a retrogressive and an unaccepting form. While his work builds a unique world of Jewish identity and tradition, Miller does understand that much of the Jewish world is still far behind the utopic world depicted on his canvases.“For other Jews it may be contradictory, but for me… it is harmonious,” he said.
Navot Miller’s artwork is a vibrant testament to the power of embracing one’s heritage while boldly defining one’s identity. His works not only reflect his personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance but also serve as a dynamic call to recognize and appreciate the rich complexity of the human experience. His artistic narrative encourages a reevaluation of tradition, advocating for a more inclusive and diverse understanding of Jewish identity in today's world.
“I paint what I would love to experience.”
Navot Miller
