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

Anna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I always joke that I started drawing before I could walk — and that may not be too much of an exaggeration. My earliest memories involve hours spent drawing every morning before anyone else in my family woke up. From a young age art was obviously my passion and my obsession.

I never really entertained whether it was a realistic way to make a living when I was young I just knew I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I had fantasies of running around Paris or New York as a starving artist in paint stained overalls with a turpentine soaked rag sticking out of my back pocket. But then I graduated from art school and had to make a living, so I got a job. Even while working full time; however, I never stopped painting and continued showing my work in various galleries and shows.

It was while living in Jerusalem, Israel in my twenties that I discovered the beauty of traditional Jewish art, known as Judaica. Until that time I had always thought of myself as exclusively a figurative painter and a portraitist. But in Israel my art began to evolve. Taking inspiration from ancient themes and motifs, as well as the intricate decorative techniques found in Mizrahi and Sephardic art, I began experimenting with making my own Judaica — marrying my rigorous artistic training with a new playful and whimsical style.

The first functional art item I created was a ketubah — a decorative Jewish marital contract. In fact, the first ketubah I made was for my own wedding. After that friends started asking me to make theirs. Before long I had a flourishing side hustle. I worked my tush off, burning the candle at both ends to continue working full time while also growing the art business. It was not easy and by this time we were also raising two young kids. It took years, lots of learning, and quite a bit of luck, but in 2017 I finally quit my last day job to make art full time. Since then I have expanded my collections to include my own modern take on all sorts of traditional ritual items, such as tallits (Jewish prayer shawls), challah boards and covers, mezuzah cases, and more. I work with individuals, companies, synagogues and non profits, taking on all sorts of commissions and projects. I even release collections of original paintings every now and then which usually sell out quickly. These days what was once a side hustle and a pipe dream has grown into a proper adult business, and I am so proud of it.

Anna, 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 was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and came to the United States as a refugee with my parents when I was seven years old. From an early age, I was deeply drawn to art. Unlike many immigrant parents who encourage their children to pursue more practical paths, mine recognized and nurtured my artistic potential. They enrolled me in rigorous adult art classes, including figure painting, when I was still a child. In high school, they even found an elderly Soviet painter who took me under his wing as his protégé—an experience for which I will always be profoundly grateful.

Being a child immigrant and refugee profoundly shaped my sense of self and continues to influence my art. The experience of changing countries, learning a new language, and switching schools as my parents worked to build a new life left me with a lasting longing for a sense of home. Over time, I’ve come to understand that home is not just a physical place—it’s a feeling, a rhythm of routines and rituals. My paintings explore themes of home, identity, history, and belonging. Shifting into the creation of functional art has allowed me to design ritual objects that help my collectors honor their traditions and build the rituals that form the foundation of a home.

Often, the first piece a collector commissions from me is a ketubah—a traditional Jewish marriage contract. In this role, I have the honor of working with couples at the very beginning of their shared journey. Many later return to commission works that commemorate other meaningful milestones: the birth of a child, a new home, an anniversary, or other significant life events. While my work has many Jewish themes and I create primarily Jewish ritual items, couples I work with come from all different backgrounds. Many are interfaith couples who utilize my art as a way to intertwine their respective faiths to build their own family traditions.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the greatest joys of being an artist is the people my work brings into my life. I have the privilege of getting to know my clients deeply as we collaborate to bring their visions to life. Over the years, I’ve worked with art lovers from all over the world, learning from their diverse stories and experiences. When they return for new pieces to mark life’s milestones, I feel honored that my art has become woven into the fabric of their journeys. Because I specialize in spiritual and Judaic art, I also have the opportunity to work closely with clergy—especially rabbis and cantors. Learning from their wisdom and insight is always a gift that enriches both my creative practice and my sense of purpose.
In 2018 we were living in the North Bay of the San Francisco area when the counties bordering ours were struck by devastating wildfires. In the aftermath, I had the idea to replace ketubahs for any family who had lost theirs in the fires. Since then the project has flourished and I have made free new replacement ketubahs for survivors of all kinds of natural disasters from hurricanes, to fires, to floods from Florida to Texas to California. Working with these couples and helping them with this small, but meaningful part of rebuilding their lives has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I am grateful that my art gives me the opportunity to contribute in this unique way.
While I love every aspect of being an artist: the creative freedom, the ever-changing nature of the work, the smell of paint in my studio…the most rewarding part of all is the relationships I’ve built along the way. Those connections are what truly sustain and inspire me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

At the heart of my creative journey is a desire to help people cultivate a sense of belonging, continuity, and identity through art. As someone who came to the United States as a refugee, I know how powerful it is to create a feeling of home through rituals and traditions. My work is rooted in helping others do the same—particularly within the Jewish community. I strive to create art and ritual objects that not only celebrate beauty and craftsmanship but also help families build and sustain their own traditions, connect to their heritage, and express their Jewish pride in meaningful, personal ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annaabramzon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaabramzonart
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/AnnaAbramzonStudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnnaAbramzon