Michal was born and raised in Israel and resides in Livingston, NJ. Around 2001, she transitioned from IT to visual arts (painting and digital photography) and soft pastels became her medium of choice. Waterscapes and the changing seasons are her main source of inspiration. She enjoys painting on location, often in her garden or local parks and arboretums, searching for beauty, harmony, serenity, and peace.
Barkai is a distinguished signature member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey, of which she served as President for 8 years, retiring in 2022. Her other memberships include the Pastel Society of America, Allied Artists of America, American Women Artists, the NJ Plein Air Painters, and Studio Montclair Inc.
Barkai’s work has appeared in Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector Magazine, Still Point Arts Quarterly, and Stone Voices Magazine, to name a few. Most recently, she was awarded “Best in Painting” at the Gaelen Gallery juried exhibition for her painting, Local Gossips.
In her spare time, Barkai enjoys dancing (Ballroom, Latin, Argentine Tango), gardening, and sightseeing.
To view more of Barkai’s artwork please visit www.MichalBarkai.com, Michal Barkai Art | Facebook, and https://michalbarkai.wordpress.com/.