Photographs by Shlomit Levy Bard.
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Organized by the Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at Hillel at UCLA. Co-sponsored by the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies
About the Work
Zionism at its core refers to the Jewish national movement, but interpretations vary widely. In the wake of October 7, particularly on U.S. college campuses including UCLA, the term has increasingly become weaponized by those with extreme ideologies, antisemitic intentions, or ambitions to deny Israel’s right to exist. This project invites subjects and viewers to explore their understanding of Zionism through photographic portraits and interviews with people living in Israel. Shlomit traveled throughout Israel—from Haifa to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beersheva, and the Gaza border—meeting people of all ages, and representing a wide range of religious, ideological, and cultural backgrounds and beliefs. The imagery and text of those she met reveal a striking diversity of perspectives even within Israel, and challenge viewers to wrestle with their preconceived understanding of Zionism. Driven by empathy and curiosity, the work explores the complexities of this issue through the lens of the artist’s own dual cultural experience, resulting in soulful portraits that reflect the interplay between personal and collective identities.
About the Artist
Shlomit Levy Bard emigrated to Los Angeles from Israel at a young age, carrying a deep connection to her homeland. After graduating magna cum laude in Political Science from UCLA, she began her photography career as a photojournalist. She worked for organizations including The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and the Associated Press. During that time, she earned multiple awards from the National Press Photographers Association and Women in Photojournalism. Her work has been shown in numerous juried exhibits and collected privately. Founding Studio SLB Photography in 2008, Shlomit expanded her artistic practice to include a diverse range of commissioned work for hundreds of families and individuals globally. Now, she returns to her early passion for documentary portraiture, capturing images that reflect the authentic complexity of her subjects. Known for her intuitive approach, Shlomit brings warmth and empathy to her craft, creating images that transcend the physical form to reveal a profound sense of presence and connection.
DISCLAIMER: The views or opinions of our guest speakers and the content of their presentations do not necessarily reflect the views of the UCLA Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. Hosting speakers does not constitute an endorsement of the speaker's views or opinions.
Sponsor(s): The Dortort Center for Creativity in the Arts at Hillel at UCLA.