We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Roni Aviv. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Roni below.

Alright, Roni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Growing up, my parents never pushed me to conform to what others considered “practical.” Instead, they insisted that I pursue my passions, trusting that fulfillment comes from doing what truly resonates with me. I remember them encouraging me to follow my artistic instincts —”follow your passions, you will figure out your financial path as you go”. That belief in my ability to find my own way has been a guiding force in my life and career, and I remain deeply grateful for their unwavering support.

My parents instilled in me a deep appreciation for culture, especially classical music and art. They believed in the importance of creative pedagogy, and from an early age, I was given the resources to pursue both art and music. This nurturing environment not only allowed me to discover my passions but also taught me that following a creative path was not only valid but essential to a fulfilling life. Their commitment to fostering my interests has shaped my personal journey and continues to influence my work as an artist.

Roni, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I combine photography, writing, and mark-making to create photo installations and book art that explore the emotional and psychological residues of experiences. Rooted in the philosophy of language and photography, I examine how words and images function as tools of authority, manipulation and control. I am particularly interested in the tension between truth and belief, and how both language and photography influence personal and collective memory.

I photograph small still lives, recreating the visible and invisible traces left by experiences. My works are biographical, addressing mental health and chronic pain, and drawing from both private and public sources; personal texts, letters, and public sources such as dictionaries and books. The materiality in the works serves as a metaphor for embodied experience and emotional impact.

My journey started early, capturing portraits of friends and acquaintances. Over time, I shifted my focus from how people look to how they feel—curious about the way a single image can be both explicit and open to endless interpretation. I gradually began incorporating text, drawing, and bookmaking into my practice, tools that help me navigate the tension between clarity and ambiguity.

I strive to create spaces—whether in an exhibition or within the pages of a book—where overlooked subjects like invisible pain and trauma are given form. My work challenges the idea that deeply personal experiences belong only in private; instead, I aim to create space for dialogue and offer a moment of reflection. The interplay of words and images is central to my practice, allowing me to address the complexities of lived experience, especially when it comes to psychological or physical suffering.

I consider the physicality of art-making essential: from shooting and drawing to printing and assembling books by hand, each stage introduces elements of friction and material interaction that mirror our own embodied experiences. This tactility is a cornerstone of my process.

I aim to challenge the dominant cultural narratives that erase or distort people’s experiences. The interplay of text and image highlights how language can manipulate, misinterpret, or obscure truth, while the physicality of the materials mirrors how trauma is processed and resisted. My work invites viewers to reconsider how we validate or invalidate the voices of those who have been silenced, misinterpreted, or erased.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

I am glad they are on their way out!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It may sound cliché, but one of the greatest joys comes from sharing my work with others. I get immense fulfillment when viewers interact with my work, and I can listen to their responses and reactions. Art, for me, is meant to initiate dialogue, inspire introspection, probe, poke, and sometimes even offer comfort. That exchange of energy and perspective is what truly sustains my practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.roniaviv.com
• Instagram: roniavivi