Interview
Yael Hertzog
Yael Hertzog is a painter and illustrator known for her vibrant, emotionally charged portraits of women. With a background in fashion illustration, her work draws inspiration from the worlds of fashion, pop art, and fantasy - blending classic elegance with bold, contemporary expression. Painting primarily with acrylics and ink, Yael is driven by a deep fascination with beauty, symmetry, and aesthetics. Her obsession with the female form goes beyond technique - it is a meditation on presence, emotion, and the unspoken language of feminine energy. Through stylized yet soulful portraits, she explores the many faces of womanhood - mystical, sensual, defiant, and serene. Yael believes that the art we live with shapes the energy we carry. Her mission is to create works that infuse spaces with harmony, beauty, and balance - awakening a sense of softness and strength in equal measure. Each canvas is a celebration of the divine feminine, reimagined for the modern world.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I've been drawing fashion illustrations before I even learned how to write - female figures always fascinated me. I studied fashion design in high school and later at the prestigious Shenkar College, majoring in costume design. For over a decade, I worked as a costume designer and even received awards for my work. When I became a mother, I shifted my focus to illustration and quickly became a commercial illustrator, collaborating with leading brands like L’oréal, Perrier, Suzuki, El-Al Airlines, Clinique, and more. In 2020, during the pandemic, I decided to fully dedicate myself to my own art practice, returning to my passion for painting soulful, feminine portraits.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by the divine feminine - by the quiet power, grace, mystery, and emotional depth of women. I draw from fashion, mythology, pop culture, and personal transformation. Often, a color palette, a pose, or even a song will spark a new idea. But above all, it’s the presence and complexity of the feminine that keeps me coming back to the canvas.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My vision as an artist is to restore and amplify feminine energy in the world - a quality I believe is deeply needed in our times. Through emotionally expressive portraits of women, I celebrate the powerful female form and its divine essence. My work is about beauty, balance, emotion, and energy - infusing everyday spaces with softness, strength, and sacred presence.”
How would you describe your work?
“I’m fascinated with beauty, symmetry, and aesthetics. My work features stylized portraits of women created primarily in acrylic and ink. Each piece explores the unspoken language of feminine energy - sometimes through explosive color and motion, sometimes through delicate flow and serenity. There’s a sense of movement around each central figure, almost as if her energy is radiating into the room.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m inspired by the greats of fashion illustration like David Downton, Megan Hess, Coby Whitmore, and René Gruau. I also love the clean lines and boldness of pop art and comic books. Artists from the fantasy world - like Brian Froud, Boris Vallejo, and Julie Bell - have also shaped my visual imagination.”
“I’m inspired by the divine feminine - by the quiet power, grace, mystery, and emotional depth of women. I draw from fashion, mythology, pop culture, and personal transformation.”
What is your creative process like?
“My process begins with a strong emotional or visual concept - sometimes a pose, a color palette, or a feeling I want to capture. Painting with acrylics allows me to work quickly and intuitively, layering until the energy feels right. Music plays a big part in my flow - it sets the emotional tone for each piece.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I love this quote by Edgar Degas: 'Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.' Artists act as magnifying glasses - we help people notice things they’ve forgotten or overlooked. In a fast-paced world, art slows us down and reawakens something essential in us. I believe artists are here to balance, challenge, and uplift society. As technology grows louder, the soulful role of the artist becomes even more vital.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve participated in several group shows and online exhibitions focused on feminine art and contemporary portraiture. Each one was an opportunity to connect with collectors and viewers who resonate with my message. I’m currently preparing a new series that I’m excited to share with galleries and curators worldwide.”
