My portfolio traces the intersection of my interests in Judaism, animals, and food. My great-grandfather was a kosher butcher, and I grew up steeped in the world of the Jewish deli: chicken soup with matzo balls, pastrami on rye, and apple strudel. At seven, I became a vegetarian. I couldn’t bring myself to eat pastrami when my dog slept at my bedside every night and my carbon footprint was exponentially greater from consuming meat. Now I eat vegetarian meatloaf. This collection of artwork depicts my cultural and aesthetic journey.

Tamar Berkowitz-Henkin, September, 2023