One Last Tea Cup // Hello Monsieur - both acrylic on birth panel 5″ x 7″

I was born in a small and boring Israeli village. I was always obsessed with two things: dolls and illustration. So, at the age of eighteen, I decided to study art instead of enlisting in the army as I was supposed to, because the army wouldn’t let me bring my dolls along to basic training. Around this time I published several illustrations and comic strips in Israeli magazines and newspapers. - kukula

Emerging from an inspiring fantasy life rooted in exposure both to popular culture and holocaust survivors, KuKula’s paintings have evolved into precious pieces dominated by a wicked infusion of tension between playfulness and sorrow. In each painting, she places cute, delicate and resilient doll like subjects in situations usually on the edge of doom. Thus, Kukula’s cutesy subjects are wearing wasted and gloomy expressions, while others perform acts of self -mutilation, or express sadness with their massacre bleached tears.

She has painted most of her new paintings in a 5″ x 7″ format to better play of the concept of her characters and enhance their tiny, glossy preciousness.

KuKula draws her aesthetic inspiration from a variety of sources, including children’s illustrations such as Holly Hobby and the Care Bears, pin-up girl art, and German bisque dolls. In 2004 she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now resides. Visit Kukula’s interactive site here, and taste some of her magic below.

Autumn and Coco

The kuku Bird

Joy’s Tears

In my last hour

Faust-Margaret and Mafisto

Hobby Time

The remaining roses of the Shapiro’s

Sara and the love bunnies

After

The Gift