Evelyn Goldman Art

My work is rooted in the Jewish papercutting tradition that flourished in Eastern Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, when papercut art decorated the walls of synagogues and homes for holidays and life cycle events.

Each piece begins from inspiration drawn from Jewish narratives and traditions. I often incorporate Hebrew lettering alongside imagery such as birds, floral patterns, and the Tree of Life, creating a visual conversation between past and present.

Once the design is complete, I cut the art from a single sheet of paper with a fine surgical blade. This process transforms the page into interlacing shapes and spaces, where light and shadow emphasize the intricacy of the design and bring both imagery and Hebrew words to life.

When displayed in your home, these works carry beauty, symbolism, and heritage into your everyday surroundings.

If you’re searching for a ketubah, a meaningful gift, or a piece of Jewish art for your home, you’re welcome to explore the collection or inquire about a custom design.

Choosing the ketubah for my marriage was more meaningful to me than finding the perfect dress. I found my gown in a single morning at Boston’s Filene’s Basement’s famous “Running of the Brides” event for under a hundred dollars.

That’s how I’ve always viewed Jewish art. It should not simply decorate a home. It should live with you and become part of the rhythm of daily life.

Our ketubah, a Jewish marriage contract that is both a legal document and a work of art, was a much larger investment. Its text sets out the commitments that establish a Jewish home, and we wanted ours to hold a lasting reminder of our identity and love. We chose a rainbow ketubah with interlocking love knots. I knew I would wear the dress once, but we would treasure our ketubah on the wall every day.

Collectors tell me that my artwork offers a visual reminder of their Jewish identity. Jewish life has long expressed identity through ritual art, from the detailed art on a ketubah to artisan-crafted mezuzahs. This tradition reflects the idea of hiddur mitzvah, beautifying the commandment.

The Talmud teaches that mitzvot should be performed with care and beauty, elevating everyday acts into expressions of devotion. Some Jewish thinkers note that the same Hebrew root behind hiddur mitzvah can also mean “dwelling place,” suggesting that beauty helps create a home worthy of the Divine presence.

In many ways, that is why the ketubah has long been both a legal document and a work of art. Its words establish the commitments of a Jewish home, while its beauty honors the life that will unfold within it.

That understanding shapes my work deeply. When Judaic art fills a home with Hebrew words, symbols, and stories, it becomes part of that tradition of honoring mitzvot through beauty. When I create artwork to mark life’s milestones, every element of the design is chosen with intention.

That sense of visual storytelling first reached a wider audience when I was invited to create a papercut exhibition for Jewish American Heritage Month at my local public library. The historic art of papercutting offered a natural way to tell the story of the Jewish people through a medium shaped by the paths of the Jewish diaspora.

To prepare for the exhibit, I studied traditional Sephardi and Ashkenazi papercutting designs created by past masters and developed several original works. One of these pieces, inspired by Jewish folklore, depicts the Golem of Prague, and it has been collected and gifted around the world as a symbol of persistence, strength, and legacy.

My work with the public library system continues through exhibitions, Meet the Artist events, and community workshops. Sharing the tradition of Jewish papercutting with new audiences remains one of the most rewarding parts of my practice. If your community is interested in an exhibit or program, I invite you to reach out to me.