Work Experience:
​​
My name is Ellada Ilana Matatov, an artist, curator, and creative educator based in Tel Aviv. My work moves between photography, contemporary art, and material-based practices, exploring how images, textures, and objects carry memory, emotion, and quiet stories. I am drawn to the intimate spaces where art becomes a way of seeing, a lens for understanding ourselves and the world around us.
​
I hold a Master of Arts (MA) in Art/Art Studies from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design (2019–2021), where I focused on contemporary art practices, critical theory, and curatorial projects. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Film, Cinema, and Video Studies from Tel Aviv University (2015–2018), which strengthened my understanding of visual storytelling and narrative. I also completed an Introduction to Art Business, Fine/Studio Arts, and General Studies at Sotheby’s Institute of Art (October 2025), gaining insight into the global art market, collection development, and the business of contemporary art.
​
I am the founder of Gallery M, a space dedicated to thoughtful, research-driven contemporary art, where I develop exhibitions, nurture emerging artists, and work with collectors to build meaningful collections. Alongside curatorial work, I founded Ellada Art, a platform for creative workshops and material exploration, offering sessions in knitting, embroidery, macramé, photography, and creative thinking. I also organize curated art tours in Tel Aviv and worldwide, providing intimate access to galleries, studios, and exhibitions, revealing the stories and processes behind the art.
Across everything I do — Gallery M, Ellada Art workshops, curating, art dealing, and tours — I am guided by the belief that art is not just something to observe. It is something to live with, to feel, and to experience. It exists in texture, light, objects, and in the quiet moments when we allow ourselves to truly see.
​
My last project currently on show, a major show about the Henkin Brothers at the Eretz Israel Museum opened in September 2025 till February 7th.​ I had the opportunity to work as studio manager for artist Fatma Shanan (2024-2025), supporting her creative process and exhibition development. I served as the Assistant Photography Curator at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2021- 2024). In this role, I oversee the planning and execution of photography exhibitions, manage budgets, and collaborate closely with artists and other art institutions to bring compelling shows to our audience.​​​
​
Before that (2020 -2021), I served as Exhibition Manager at Hezi Cohen Gallery. Here, I was responsible for evaluating the gallery's overall performance, meticulously maintaining records of past exhibitions, and building strong relationships with collectors to ensure the success of each show.
​​
Previously, I honed my skills at Mika Gallery (2018-2020), where I was involved in every aspect of the gallery's operations. From curating art installations to crafting press releases, I played a key role in expanding the gallery's reach and impact.
​
Alongside curating, I lead private art tours - both in Tel Aviv and internationally, including to the Venice Biennale, Paris Photo, and other leading art destinations. These tours are tailored to offer personal, in-depth experiences with contemporary art around the world.
​
Education:
In pursuit of my passion for the arts, I embarked on a journey of learning and growth through various educational experiences:
​

• Sotheby's Institute of Art - Introduction to Art Business Intense frontal short course New York October 2025

• Curator Diploma - Museology studies in collaboration between Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2022-2023)

• M.A in Theory Of The Arts - Curating Studies, Bezalel Academy of Art, Jerusalem (2019-2022)

• B.A in Cinema and Television, Tel Aviv University, Theory Department (2015-2018)​

• ELLADA ILANA MATATOV

• Curator | Selected Exhibitions, Curatorial Projects & Professional Experience

• 2026

• What Remains Awake – Sarah Svetlana
  Mika Contemporary Art Gallery, Jaffa, Israel.
  Curator. Solo exhibition exploring displacement, inherited memory, identity and belonging.

• https://jbiznews.com/what-remains-awake-artist-sarah-svetlanas-searching-luminous-homecoming-to-jaffa/

• Evgeny and Yakov Henkin: Images of Memory (2025–2026)
  MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Associate Curator, alongside Curator Raz Samira. An exhibition exploring the photographic legacy of the Henkin brothers and the relationship between historical documentation, personal testimony and collective memory.

•  https://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/en/exhibitions/evgeny-and-yakov-henkin/ 

• Belu-Simion Fainaru: Rose of Nothingness – Pavilion of Israel, 61st Venice Biennale
  Venice, Italy.
  Public Relations Manager during the pavilion's opening events.

• https://belusimionfainaru.com/

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2026 edition.

• 2025

• Fatma Shanan: One Shot (2025–2026)
  MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Assistant Producer. Video-art exhibition addressing the relationship between the human body, landscape and personal and collective experience.

• https://www.eretzmuseum.org.il/en/exhibitions/one-shot/

• Fatma Shanan – Artist Studio (2024–2025)
  Studio Manager. Responsible for studio operations, artist relations and coordination of artistic projects.

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2025 edition.

• 2024

• Netta Laufer: Distant Lights
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator, Photography Department. Curator: Mira Lapidot.

• https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/netta-laufer-distant-lights/

• 2023–2024

• Ira Eduardovna: Iron Road
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator, Photography Department. Curator: Raz Samira. A two-channel video installation exploring migration, childhood memories and displacement.

• https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/ira-eduardovna-iron-road/

• 2023

• Alex Levac: Cyber Flâneur
  Google Arts & Culture, in collaboration with the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator | Original Concept Development. Originated the Cyber Flâneur concept and contributed to the curatorial development of a virtual photography exhibition examining Alex Levac's work through digital wandering and observation.

• https://www.ellada-art.com/projects-6

• Photography Under Fire
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel, in collaboration with ZAZ10TS, New York.
  Event Producer. Produced the event accompanying a photography project featuring photojournalistic work by Ziv Koren documenting the war in Ukraine.

• https://www.ellada-art.com/projects-6

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2023 edition.

• 2022–2023

• Vera Vladimirsky: Sand Wall
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator, Photography Department. Curator: Raz Samira. A photographic exhibition exploring migration, identity, memory and the concept of home.

• https://tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/vera-vladimirsky-sand-wall/

• 2022

• Shai Ignatz: Goldi
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator, Photography Department. Curator: Raz Samira. An exhibition surveying the artist's photographic and video practice.

• https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/shai-ignatz-goldi/

• Arie Aroch
  Hezi Cohen Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Exhibitions Manager. Exhibition coordination and gallery operations.

• https://hezicohengallery.com/exhibitions/arie-aroch/

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2022 edition.

• 2021–2022

• Efrat Hakimi: Looking for a Village
  Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel.
  Assistant Curator, Photography Department. Curator: Raz Samira. An exhibition exploring family archives, migration and collective memory.

• https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/exhibition/efrat-hakimi-looking-village/

• 2021–2024

• Tel Aviv Museum of Art – Photography Department
  Assistant Photography Curator. Curatorial research, exhibition development and coordination of photography and moving-image exhibitions.

• 2021–2023

• Hezi Cohen Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel
  Exhibitions Manager.

• Managed and coordinated exhibitions and gallery projects involving leading Israeli artists, including Sigalit Landau, Amit Cabessa, Yakira Amenti, Eran Shakine, Arie Aroch and Yigal Tumarkin.

• Responsibilities included exhibition planning, production coordination, artist relations and gallery operations.

• https://hezicohengallery.com/

• 2021

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2021 edition.

• 2020

• Ezra Baderman: Chaos and Order
  Salon Baghdad, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Curator. Solo exhibition presenting multidisciplinary work exploring artistic processes, materials and personal transformation.

• https://www.secrettelaviv.com/tickets/ezra-baderman-chaos-and-order-solo-exhibition

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2020 edition.

• 2019

• Life as a Structure (HaChaim KeMivne)
  PHOTO IS – International Photography Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Curator.

• Fountain of Youth (Ma'ayan HaNe'urim)
  Fresh Paint Art Fair, presented by Mika Contemporary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Exhibition Management and Gallery Presentation.

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2019 edition.

• 2018–2021

• Mika Contemporary Art Gallery, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel
  Gallery Manager.

• Managed the gallery's exhibition programme, including exhibition production, installation coordination, artist relations and gallery operations.

• Projects included Fountain of Youth (Fresh Paint Art Fair, 2019) and exhibitions featuring Joey, whose full name and exhibition title remain to be confirmed.

• 2018

• Fresh Paint Art Fair
  Tel Aviv, Israel.
  Professional participation in the 2018 edition.

• Additional Professional Experience

• Fresh Paint Art Fair – 2018–2023, 2025–2026
  Annual professional participation in the contemporary art fair in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026. No participation in 2024.

• Education

• 2025 – Introduction to Art Business, Sotheby's Institute of Art, New York.

• MA – Art Theory and Curatorial Studies, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.

• BA – Cinema and Television (Theory), Tel Aviv University.

• Professional Website

• https://www.ellada-art.com/

• https://www.ellada-art.com/projects-6

​