Noa Klagsbald is one of ArtConnect’s Artists to Watch '22

Noa Klagsbald is an Israeli artist, who specializes in photography and sculpture. Her works focus on the connection between art, sports, and community. She is often present in her works, either explicitly or implicitly. In her photographs, she utilizes the camera to navigate complex social issues such as coexistence and power dynamics.

Klagsbald is a female photographer photographing mostly men and​​ she uses the camera’s authority to reframe gender dynamics. Her practice became a way of engaging with men and presenting a different narrative for masculinity and its role in our society.

Klagsbald’s MA Degree show was selected to be presented at the International Space Station as part of Axiom’s first private mission to space and is part of an upcoming solo show at OOF Gallery in London. She was chosen by Forbes magazine to be part of the prestigious 30 Under 30 list. Her works have been presented in a variety of art galleries, exhibitions, and international art collections.

ArtConnect asked the winning artists to share with us a glimpse into their creative life to get a sense of their personal inspiration and artistic process.

How did you get started as an artist?

The moment I realized the strength photography holds for me was when I was documenting myself, wearing a white shirt, on the carpet at Ben Gurion’s house. Years earlier, my grandfather stood in the exact same place, as the official biographer of Israel’s first prime minister. The photographs I took have generated a new perspective on a well-known aspect of my family’s and Israel’s history; the use of a camera allowed me to explore myself within these eventful surroundings. Since then, the selection process of locations for my artworks became an important component and significant motivator of my artistic practice. I examine my choice of location constantly, attempting to emphasize aspects which were invisible or non-existent before my intervention.

How would you describe your artistic approach?

I am a multidisciplinary artist, specializing in photography and sculpture. As a die-hard sports fan, I am passionate about incorporating the atmosphere and adrenaline that exists in sports into my art; As an artist, I aspire to use my knowledge in sports to create art that reframes power-dynamics. One way I fuse these two passions is by restaging famous historical paintings of Masters (Manet, Degas, Velázquez( in settings taken from sports. Through this practice, I create a new dimension to look at art and sports – as often seen in my projects.

And how about what inspires you?

Alongside sports, I am also a great fan of fashion. In You are my flower, an artistic collaboration with the luxurious Factory 54 fashion company, I created an installation of over 600 hand-sculpted roses, made from Burberry and Ralph Lauren shirt sleeves. These sculptures were incorporated into photographs dealing with gender and the Israeli social landscape, as a symbol of the connecting thread between International Haute Couture and local Israeli culture.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an artist?

Knowing that I take on multiple roles during my projects (producer, photographer, subject, artist, collaborator, etc.) requires me to constantly verify what the project's priorities are versus my priorities. not simple but very instructive and enriching.

Describe a typical day in the studio/wherever you make your work.

Because I work on big productions my agenda changes, so it depends on what stage of the project I am at. For example, I worked on my latest project mainly in Zoom, while studying in London at the Royal College of Art and while planning the project's production with the mixed football team of the city of Lod. I had weekly Zoom calls with the team players, sponsors, and graphic designers - all from London.

Is there a medium, a process, or a technique that you haven't used in your work yet but would like to try out?

Printing on materials.

What are you currently working on? Or an upcoming project you want to mention?

I have a Solo show at OOF Gallery in London.In GOAL I use the tools of art history to tell a story of companionship and unity in the squad of Hapoel Bnei Lod, a football club founded in an impoverished satellite city southeast of Tel Aviv. As Israel descends further and further into conflict, Lod's team, which is made up of Arab-Israeli and Jewish-Israeli players, grows more unified than ever. By tapping into this camaraderie and using the intimacy of the team's changing room to restage historical paintings by Manet, Degas and Velázquez, I look to undermine the power dynamics that ripple through my country.

The gallery is located inside (!) Tottenham Stadium. OOF Gallery is the world's first cutting-edge art space dedicated to football and the culture that surrounds it.

How does it feel to be selected as an ArtConnect Artist to Watch?

I am grateful for the opportunity to be selected as an artist to watch. ArtConnect is an important international platform to present myself and my work to diverse audiences who have not yet been exposed to it.

Anything else you want to add?

GOAL made history by making the Hapoel Bnei Lod football team the first to "reach" the International Space Station as part of the "RAKIA" project's art mission in which Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe took one of the photographs on the project and presented them on the space station.

The project made history by making the Hapoel Bnei Lod football team the first to "reach" the International Space Station as part of the "RAKIA" project's art mission in which Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe took one of the photographs on the project and presented them on the space station.

See more of Noa’s work

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