Michael Israel
Michael Isreal | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Artist; performer |
| Known for | Speed painting; charity fundraising performances |
| Style | Live "speed painting" performances ("art concerts") |
| Website | https://michaelisrael.com/ |
Michael Israel is an American artist and performer known for "speed painting," a form of live performance art in which he creates large-scale portraits in a matter of minutes before an audience, often set to music.[1][2] He has performed at corporate events, galas, and charity fundraisers, and much of his work is tied to philanthropy: he paints at benefit events where the finished pieces are auctioned to raise money, a model through which he has supported more than 100 charities.[2][1] One of his portraits, a six-foot painting of Donald Trump created at a 2007 charity gala, later became the focus of national news coverage over the Donald J. Trump Foundation's use of charitable funds.[3][4]
Career and performances
Israel has said he began performing in 1974, developing a high-energy style he calls an "art concert," in which he paints while spinning and flipping the canvas so the subject is revealed only when the work is turned upright.[1][5] His performances draw on a background in martial arts, and he typically completes a large portrait in roughly five to ten minutes.[2][6] He has painted well-known figures including Warren Buffett, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, and Prince.[6][5]
In 2008, Israel painted a 36-square-foot portrait of Warren Buffett at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders' meeting in Omaha; it was auctioned online with a starting bid of $100,000 to benefit Girls Incorporated of Omaha.[7][2] In 2019, he completed what was described as his first underwater speed painting, a portrait of Albert Einstein created while diving in a pool at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a benefit performance.[8][9] After the COVID-19 pandemic halted live events in 2020, Israel began staging virtual "art concerts" and launched a program he called "20for21," pledging 20 no-cost virtual charity events in 2021.[1] A first-responder tribute he created in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, titled "Hero," has been displayed publicly; one version was donated to the Wilmington, Delaware, fire department in 2021.[10]
Philanthropy
Much of Israel's career centers on charity fundraising. He paints at benefit galas where his works are sold, typically through silent auctions, and he has said he has raised millions of dollars for causes including the Special Olympics, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Girls Inc. of Omaha.[2][1] He has described this approach by saying he can "write a bigger check" with a paintbrush than with a pen.[1] According to a profile citing his own materials, a first-time studio work on canvas was priced around $150,000, with some pieces selling for as much as $250,000.[11] Individual events have raised substantial sums, including more than $100,000 for the Armory Art Center in Palm Beach at a 2017 gala.[6]
2007 Trump portrait
In November 2007, Israel performed at a charity gala at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, benefiting the children's charity then known as the Children's Place at Home Safe (later HomeSafe), where he painted a six-foot portrait of Trump. Melania Trump won the piece at auction for $20,000, with half the proceeds going to the charity and half to Israel.[3][12] The purchase drew national attention in 2016, when the Washington Post reported that the Donald J. Trump Foundation had paid for the portrait, raising questions among tax experts about whether the charity's funds had been used improperly for Trump's benefit.[3][4] Israel, who was the performer rather than a party to the foundation's spending, spoke to several news outlets about the episode, recreated the portrait for television, and painted and donated a new Trump portrait to raise money for HomeSafe; he said he was disappointed that the coverage overshadowed the charity's work.[13][12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Watson, Denise (March 16, 2021). "Speed painting, cocktails and fun: Autism-support event will feature world-famous artist Michael Israel". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Reed, Owen (November 28, 2025). "Colors Of Courage: Cancer Fundraiser Hosting World-Famous Artist". The Post-Journal.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fahrenthold, David (September 14, 2016). "A clue to the whereabouts of the 6-foot-tall portrait of Donald Trump". The Washington Post.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fahrenthold, David (September 10, 2016). "How Donald Trump retooled his charity to spend other people's money". The Washington Post.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lokting, Britta (September 23, 2016). "Meet Donald Trump's $20,000 Jewish Speed Painter". The Forward.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sjostrom, Jan (February 26, 2017). "Purple Reign raises more than $100,000 for Armory Art Center". Palm Beach Daily News.
- ↑ Crippen, Alex (November 10, 2008). "Charity Bidding Starts at $100,000 for Portrait of Warren Buffett Painted In Under Ten Minutes". CNBC.
- ↑ Streicher, Sean (March 19, 2019). "Painting with a splash: Speed painter tackles new challenge". WTSP.
- ↑ Gross, Lila (March 18, 2019). "Michael Israel in Tampa Bay to underwater 'speed paint' for first time". WFLA.
- ↑ Phillips, Mike (October 29, 2021). "9/11 commemorative painting to hang in Wilmington". WDEL.
- ↑ Christopher, Tommy (September 14, 2016). "Painter Who Did $20,000 6-Foot Trump Painting Says They Sell For Ten Times That". Mediaite.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Fahrenthold, David (November 1, 2016). "This is the portrait of Donald Trump that his charity bought for $20,000". The Washington Post.
- ↑ Sorentrue, Jennifer (September 20, 2016). "Trump painting fallout brings national attention to local non-profit". The Palm Beach Post.