Israeli Artist Moshe Saidi Dies at 89, Leaving Lasting Ceramic Art Legacy

Moshe Saidi, a veteran Israeli artist renowned for his ceramic works and artistic murals, passed away at the age of 89. Born in 1937 in the city of Mahdan, Iran, Saidi immigrated alone to Israel in 1950 at the age of 13, initially joining Kibbutz Na'an and later settling in Kibbutz Kfar Menachem, where he lived and created for decades. He was survived by his wife, four children, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

From an early age, Saidi was exposed to various art forms including painting, sculpture, and calligraphy, influenced by his parents' crafts. He pursued extensive art studies at the Avni Institute, the Teachers' Seminary for Painting in Tel Aviv, and academies in London. In the 1960s, he specialized in artistic ceramics, particularly integrating ceramics with architecture, which became the central focus of his career.

Throughout his long career, Saidi produced numerous public artworks, including ceramic murals in public buildings, kibbutzim, cultural centers, educational institutions, synagogues, and urban spaces. He collaborated with artists such as Shraga Weil, Shmuel Katz, and Moshe Castel. Notable works include the large ceramic mural "War and Peace" (1969) at the Kibbutz Movement headquarters in Tel Aviv and the "Kaddish and Prayer" monument in Ashdod (2000), made of brass and marble, dedicated to the city’s fallen soldiers.

Saidi’s art bridged personal memory and collective narrative, blending traditional language with continual innovation. His ceramic medium, despite its rigidity, became a dynamic expressive tool that has enriched Israeli public spaces for decades.