Noa Reichenberg: When Mirrors Become a Language of Self-Expression
Mirrors reflect reality, distort it and offer an endless range of possibilities. In Noa Reichenberg’s artistic universe, they become a means of self-expression, conveying emotions and a personal world she wishes to share with others, inviting them to discover unexpected facets of themselves. Originally from Tel Aviv, Noa holds a degree in philosophy and trained as a social worker. Today, she is an established artist whose passion for art, and mirrors in particular, has grown alongside her, shaping a remarkable artistic career. Her highly distinctive style immediately catches the eye, while her work both fascinates and impresses. She creates geometric patterns directly on mirrors, using both opaque and transparent paints.
In just a few days, on November 5, she will open her second solo exhibition at the Herzliya Municipal Gallery, curated by Nili Sessler. A portrait of an unconventional artist.
Noa welcomes us into her home for the interview. From the entrance to the living room, kitchen, hallways and other living spaces, no corner has been spared: her creations set the tone throughout. Mirrors of all shapes and sizes fill the house, alongside a studio incorporated into her living area. The distinctive décor makes the place feel almost like a museum.
A passion for mirrors born on a street corner
"I was walking down the street when I came across a mirror someone had abandoned, probably thrown away. It caught my attention. I began to see the mirror as a medium for artistic creation. It is very different from a canvas, which absorbs whatever you put on it. A mirror, by contrast, reflects our gaze and our surroundings, and it is constantly changing. It has an incredible dynamic quality," Noa tells Itonnews.
An experimental period followed. The young artist gradually began collecting different mirrors, testing a variety of shapes, colors and materials to explore how each surface would respond.
An original artistic technique
Noa starts with sketches before transferring her designs onto the mirrors through a carefully developed process. She first outlines the shapes directly onto the glass using specialized pens. This stage requires considerable precision and attention to detail to ensure clean, accurate lines. She then fills the shapes with paint specially designed for glass, choosing between opaque, transparent and reflective finishes. This technique allows her to play with contrasts and create subtle variations in the desired effect.
"I use materials that create texture, as well as paints with body and thickness. When I design a piece, I plan what I call 'cut-outs'. That's the term I use, even though I don't actually cut or glue anything. I simply leave certain areas unpainted so that the mirror itself remains visible. The paints have different levels of transparency, allowing me to create a wide range of effects. I have also experimented with alcohol ink, which gives me greater freedom in the way I apply it," she explains.
Geometry as an artistic language
Through her technique, Noa expresses herself in the language of geometry : a personal visual vocabulary through which she reveals her inner world to the public.
"Abstract geometry is my inner language. It probably represents all the things left unsaid within me that eventually find their way into my work. These shapes hold a great deal of meaning for me. They express emotions, thoughts and sensations," Noa says.
But the artist's ambitions go further. Above all, she wants to spark curiosity in viewers and encourage them to reflect on the image the mirror presents to them. She feels that because her works are created on mirrors, they do not truly exist until someone stands in front of them.
"Every person who looks at my mirrors brings them to life, because everyone sees something different. The artwork changes depending on who is looking at it. What interests me is what it evokes in the viewer, what they feel when confronted with it and how they interpret it," she says.
With a traditional work of art, we look at the object itself, directing our gaze towards it. Here, however, our gaze also turns back on us. We see the artwork and our own reflection simultaneously, but in fragmented form. We only see parts of ourselves.
"This raises many questions about perception and the way we see ourselves and others. What do we hide? What do we reveal? We are constantly choosing which parts of ourselves we want to bring into the light, while concealing others," Noa explains.
The artist follows precisely this process in her work: revealing as much as she conceals.
Over time, her artistic approach has evolved, giving increasing prominence to the areas she deliberately leaves unpainted. These empty spaces become artworks in their own right, and absence takes on a meaning of its own. She first develops the patterns, then considers how they interact with the shape of the mirror itself.
Noa also creates works in series. One example is a three-dimensional composition made up of three mirrors of identical size, found in different locations, which interact with one another and play with contrasting effects.
"To me, mirrors blur the boundaries between the inside and the outside. We look at everything around us, including other people, through the lens of our experiences, our personal histories and our emotions. Everything we perceive is influenced by our inner world. I want my art to be neither indifferent nor disconnected from life," she says.
Giving mirrors a second life
Many of the mirrors Noa works with are second-hand pieces that she rescues after finding them abandoned on pavements or purchases from private individuals. Some bear imperfections, scratches and marks on their wooden frames.
"Sometimes I come across mirrors with these kinds of flaws and choose to preserve them in the artwork. These marks are part of the mirror's history, just as our wounds and scars are part of ours. To me, all these elements are present: breaks, cracks and sharp edges. They are not always visible from the outside. Sometimes the wounds caused by trauma cannot be seen. The rupture is internal. I think my mirrors and my artistic work are precisely concerned with these hidden places, these concealed parts of ourselves," she says.
Depending on the design and size, Noa can spend between one and two months on a single piece, sometimes longer when the work involves more complex stages.
An international presence
Noa's work has travelled far beyond Israel. Her talent has taken her to group exhibitions across the country and internationally, including in South Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. Her first solo exhibition took place at the Tel Aviv Port in 2019.
She is now preparing her second solo exhibition, entitled "Attention! Fragile", which will run from November 5 to December 10 in Herzliya.
Her finest mirrors will be displayed alongside around six poems she has written, some of them directly connected to the mirrors and extending the reflection explored through her visual work. Around thirty sketches on black paper, created using materials with gold and silver finishes, will complete the exhibition.
"The poems add another dimension. Often, a poem shares its title with one of my mirrors and has a connection to it. Words reveal more. Even when they remain abstract, they are more explicit than visual forms. It is an artistic adventure that I am incredibly excited about," Noa says.
Looking ahead, the artist is considering an exhibition in Japan, a dream she hopes to make a reality in the near future.
Noa Reichenberg's exhibition, "Attention! Fragile", opens on Thursday, November 5, at 7 Ben Gurion Street, Herzliya, and runs until December 10. All of her artworks will be available for purchase.
Noa's website : https://www.noa-art.co.il/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/noareichenberg_artist/
Caroline Haïat
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