Naftali Touvia Besanson was born in France in 1980. He moved with his family to Jerusalem in 1994, where he received his initial inspiration to create. Touvia’s father, Yisrael Yitzhak Besanson—an accomplished artist and Judaic scholar—had a profound influence on Touvia’s early artistic journey.

Touvia’s early works reflect the abstract spirituality of Kandinsky, yet his artistic development owes much to the guidance and depth passed on by his father. Over the years, Touvia has become known for his fearless experimentation with materials—layering acrylic, gold leaf, and found elements in a way that breathes life into each canvas. To him, every scrap of material is not random, but a creation of the Creator—waiting to be discovered, elevated, and transformed.

His process is deeply intuitive. An instantaneous spark of inspiration can draw him into the studio for hours or days, as he works to translate pure inner vision into form. For Touvia, each piece is a prayer in color, a bridge between the physical and the metaphysical. His works often explore spiritual symbolism—particularly from Jewish tradition—infusing abstract expression with meaning, emotion, and a profound sense of sacred presence.