Last year in my art class, we were assigned to make a painting that embodied something personal to you. Naturally, one of the most personal things to me is my Judaism. As I spent weeks working on my painting, I became closer to my Jewish identity and more aware of it. Judaism is so personal to me, so the fact that I could combine it with something I loved so much, like painting, just made me really happy.

?Connecting my Jewish identity with art made me wonder about other artists who'd done the same. In my many, many years taking art classes and learning about art history, I'd never heard of any art centered on Judaism, or of any Jewish artists at all.

This realization gave me the idea for this article: to find important Jewish artists, learn about them, and explore how they connected their art to Judaism and their Jewish Identity.

1.Moritz Daniel Oppenheim?

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim is a German painter, sometimes considered the first modern-era Jewish painter. Oppenheim's works and influence were instrumental in the social acceptance of Jews into the art world. In a time when many Jewish artists converted to Christianity to achieve greater success, Oppenheim remained true to himself and his faith, infusing Judaism into many aspects of his art. One of Oppenheim's most famous works, titled “Scenes from a Traditional Jewish Family Life,” showcased the beauty of Jewish life and culture. This was especially influential in a time when Jews struggled to be accepted into all aspects of European culture and were discriminated against solely because of their religion. Oppenheim's opened doors for many Jewish artists and was one of the most instrumental factors in establishing the Jewish art world of today.

2.Marc Chagall

Marc (or Moishe) Chagall was a Russian/French artist whose Jewish heritage played a major part in his identity as an artist. Much of his work combined characteristics of both traditional Jewish and modernist art. His works often showed Jewish folklore and religious symbolism. Marc Chagall left a lasting impact on the world, both in his work as an early and influential modernist and in his devotion to embracing his Judaism, despite other artists of his time hiding theirs.

3. Judy Chicago

Judy Chicago, born Judith Sylvia Cohen, is an American artist whose Jewish identity was instrumental in developing her art. Chicago's Jewish upbringing and values, such as Tikkun Olam, influenced her development into one of the most important feminist artists in history. Chicago delved into her heritage through many works, but specifically “Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light,” an exhibition that explored both Chicago's own heritage and the Holocaust. Judy Chicago's  art has been instrumental in dismantling the male-dominated art world, and continues to inspire feminist art movements.

I will forever be thankful for these artists and the many others who opened the doors for me — and for many others — to experience the wonder of the Jewish art world and, truly, art as a whole.