Emil Silberman

Artist Statement

I was always fascinated by the ability of art to capture an emotion, a thought or a feeling in ways more powerful than can be expressed by words. Art to me is a doorway to the subconscious and hence to exploration of the deeper human experiences. My fascination with human psyche, the human condition, duality of sexes, flaws of the human nature as well as various interactions between humans has been an endless source for artistic inspiration and creative ideas. My subject matter has been depicting a state of mind, the folly and farce, the anguish and despair, the falling and the struggle, the reactive behaviors of mankind .

Throughout the years I tried to develop an ability to translate my thoughts and feelings into artistic forms which could be understood by others. Actually it has developed into a different language for me in which I can communicate with others on a much deeper level of understanding.

Being mostly self-taught I learned unconventional ways of using various materials and along the way acquired the necessary skills for their use and application. Despite developing a myriad of approaches and techniques, the subject matter has always remained the guiding focus in my work. Therefore a statement the work makes and its hidden meaning are paramount to its creation and execution.

Even though I command a number of styles I prefer not to sway with the currents in the Art world but rather to concentrate on advancing my own creative process in pursuit of new and better ways to achieve my set objectives.

I strive to create artwork that will capt

Biography of Emil Silberman

Was born on 7/11/1960 in Riga, Latvia. Parents were jewish human rights activists against the Soviet regime and childhood was marked by constant harassment by the KGB and the authorities.

Started to do art at age 3 when received a box of plasteline as a birthday present. At age 8 started to take art classes .

In 1971 the family immigrated to Israel. Lived through “Yom Kipur” war of 1973 . Was accepted to the Art Academy in Tel Aviv but prents didn’t approve to study art. Parents demanded that Emil will pursue a career of a doctor since his mother was not allowed to become a doctor in USSR during Stalins’s famous “Trial of the Jewish Doctors” and the following dismissal, imprisonment and killings of prominent Jewish physicians and others.

Continued to study Art on his own through different venues and after school programs in Haifa, Israel.

Immigrated again in 1977 to the USA and lived in Brooklyn and then Queens. Attended Yeshiva University and later Queens College and studied sciences and Biology in preparation for Medical School. Continued to study Art in parallel to other studies.

Married at age 21 in 1982 while still in college.

Entered a UTESA Medical School in the Dominican Republic in 1982 and graduated in 1986.

Completed residency in Internal Medicine from 1986 through 1989.

Worked as an Emergency Room physician in Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Trauma Center , Jamaica, NY since 1990. Was an Assistant Director of Emergency Department at Jamaica Hospital between 1998 and 2014, currently continuing to work