Avrum Rosensweig

As of today (December 26, 2023) I am 63 years old. I have been painting since 1995, when I was 35. Similarly, I am the founder of a Jewish humanitarian organization called Ve'ahavta. We have helped the homeless and impoverished in Toronto and surrounding areas and assisted those in medical needs in places like Zimbabwe and Guyana. I am a writer, and a teacher and student of spirituality. I also host and produce podcasts (The Avrum Rosensweig Show), and my greatest gift, is my son.

I am self-taught artist. I did however, attend a class for 10 months, taught by a man very wrapped up in his genius, a unique person, who you could see was a master but he couldn't be a great teacher. Regardless I learned from him. It was through him I discovered I love favism and expressionism. And I fell in love with the pallet knife, an instrument much different than the brush, certainly less hairy, and in my case, much more comfortable between my thumb and index finger.

I was also deeply influenced by my yeshiva years (private very religious Talmud school). Senses were unimportant there. The development of the mind was the focus. It helps to think when you paint, to consider the options, the next brushstroke and why.

In 2017, I was part of a show at the Twister Room in Toronto. I showed seven pieces as ten other artists. It was a powerful feeling to show. Excitement overlapped with terror. There I was, and someone, a stranger, was looking at my art (the audacity), and I felt like a king, and I felt like my pants had dropped. But it was good!