Identical Twin Artists Neil and Karin Romano Live a Symbiotic, Art-Focused Life

Identical twins Neil and Karin Romano, 37, live a highly symbiotic life in Tel Aviv, dedicating themselves entirely to their shared art. They sleep in the same bed, eat from the same plate, and largely isolate themselves from the outside world, sharing their small apartment with one roommate. Their artistic goal is to create together, maintaining a private bubble that occasionally allows in external drama, which then fuels their work. The twins embrace their blurred individual identities, seeing their fused consciousness as a strength.

Karin stated that they chose art over social integration, describing their lives as a continuous act of creation, involving both enjoyment and suffering. They acknowledge this choice comes at a price, sometimes leading to conflict when one wants to engage with the world and the other prefers to create. Their art delves into difficult and painful themes, stemming from their personal scars and a belief in exploring the beauty of imperfection and pain.

The twins describe their isolation not as a response to external rejection but as a preference for quiet and a long-standing tendency to remain outsiders. They find comfort in shared artistic interests like films by Kieslowski and Lynch, contrasting this with romantic comedies that bore them. They admit to a deep codependency, with Karin often providing the drive when Neil lacks ambition, and vice versa.

Despite their closeness, they experience loneliness within their bond, feeling "together and yet alone against the whole world." They manage their intense connection by sharing quiet moments, listening to music, and watching films, prioritizing their art above social relationships. They maintain a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram solely to share their art, acknowledging the necessity of staying visible in the current era.

Their lives have been impacted by a dangerous stalker who exhibited obsessive behavior, sending threatening messages. This experience led them to consider disconnecting from social media entirely. They reported the stalker to the FBI, and he was eventually killed by police after attacking two people, an event the twins refer to as "The Villain is Dead!" and a triumph of karma.

Born and raised in Tel Aviv to parents who immigrated from Turkey, the twins developed a unique artistic style characterized by surrealism, darkness, and intense creativity, translating their emotional pain into powerful paintings. Their work often features female figures in impossible compositions, with elements of sexuality and vibrant colors. They are currently participating in an exhibition titled "Aviv's Summer - A Group Exhibition on Boycott and Social Exclusion" at the Municipal Art Gallery in Ramat Hasharon, a theme that aligns with their lifelong focus on the "different, the alien, and the ostracized."

The twins identify as lesbians, realizing their orientation at age seven. They also experienced a period in their youth where they believed they were boys. Romantic relationships are secondary to their art; Karin went ten years without dating, and Neil finds intense romantic involvement distracting from their creative freedom. They have experienced mutual attraction to the same woman, viewing such shared infatuation as a possibility within their unique bond.

Their military service, the first time they were physically separated, reinforced their need for each other. At age 24, Karin experienced a psychotic episode, which she initially hid from Neil. This event, described in her diagnosis as being "like a leaf in the wind," led to a five-year period of therapy and intensive artistic creation, which they credit with saving them. Their creative process involves intense collaboration, often marked by arguments and disagreements that they believe ultimately strengthen their artwork. They refuse to discard any of their creations, even if imperfect, preferring to revisit and repair them.