Romy Attias: Blending Art, Memory, and Music

Art installation by Romy

Passionate, dream-driven, and gifted, 21-year-old Romy Attias is already a fully-fledged artist. This French-Israeli, who grew up in a mixed household, has carved out a style that is distinctly her own. In works imbued with her dual identity, she explores family history and heritage through a variety of mediums, never hesitating to venture into uncharted territory. Born in Israel to an Israeli mother and a French father, Romy lives in Jaffa. Ambitious and determined, she already boasts several exhibitions and an ever-growing portfolio. After earning her French baccalaureate in Israel, she served as a clarinetist in the IDF military orchestra. Having completed her service six months ago, she has set herself a new goal: to enroll in the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the fall of 2026. In the meantime, Romy is working tirelessly to make a name for herself in the art world and multiply her projects, with one clear aim — to live entirely from her passion.

From the moment she left the army, Romy joined Le Studio de Botton in Tel Aviv, where she works alongside a seasoned Israeli artist — a true mentor who offers invaluable advice for launching her career.

“Since I was a child, I’ve had this passion for art, and I told myself this was the perfect moment to devote myself to it fully. I’ve improved a lot and gained confidence. Creating is my strength, and it makes me happy. Every day I go to the studio, and I work on several paintings. Back in high school, I used to spend my summers there, and now I have the privilege of helping the artist give lessons to younger students,” Romy tells Itonnews.

Daughter of a musician, Romy has been immersed in a multicultural and artistic environment from birth. She took to drawing very early on, spending long hours at it before realizing it was her true calling. Her work spans a wide range of themes: figures, realistic portraits, abstract landscapes, imprints, explorations of space… Romy varies her subjects to build a world that reflects her own identity.

Romy’s work

Major Projects

Last February, Romy took part in a collective art project with three other artists to breathe new life into a community center in Jaffa that was about to be demolished. The aim was to evoke the spirit of the neighborhood and bring back visitors’ memories.

“A lot of activities took place in that center — children and adults walked those floors. Gradually, the idea came to me. One day, as I was walking on the beach, I thought that nothing recalls memories quite like footprints. I photographed footprints in the sand and printed them on a large scale — three meters high. The footprints represent the people who passed through the center and left an indelible mark,” she explains.

This project marked a real turning point.

“I was completely outside my comfort zone,” she admits. “At first, the reception wasn’t great — when they saw a young person my age arrive, they didn’t really trust me. And when I presented my idea, everyone was against it, no one understood my vision. They threw obstacles in my way… The hardest part was convincing them.”

After ten-hour workdays, Romy won them over.

Today, the building is gone, but photographs of the installation remain. And it is precisely this fleeting nature that moves her:

“Anything that isn’t eternal speaks to me more than what lasts. It gives things far greater value.”

In May, Romy’s dream began to take shape: she took part to an exhibition at the Ben Ami Gallery in Tel Aviv. Her installation — made up of canvases and objects she had drawn on — made a strong impression, officially launching her career.

“I designed an installation with lights and suspended large-scale prints of footprints in the sand to evoke memory. I covered the room with shoe prints and added red and pink lights — red has now become my signature color. I used to be afraid of it; I wouldn’t wear it or use it in my art. In the army, my uniform had red elements — beret, insignia… After two years of seeing it every day, I decided I could finally bring it into my work. Today, it’s my favorite color,” she says.

On July 17, Romy was invited to the trendy Pop and Pope restaurant to create a live painting. The work, now on display there, is already said to have found a buyer — an experience that might well lead to another invitation. With an address book already well-stocked, Romy seizes every opportunity to meet gallery owners and promote her art. She is also keen to expand her creative possibilities by experimenting with sculpture.

Piece created at Pop and Pope

The Ever-Present Family Connection

Romy’s work is deeply rooted in the intimate bond she shares with her family. Recently, she created a painting from photographs of her two grandmothers, incorporating drawings inspired by her great-grandmother.

“I’ve always wondered why I could draw so well,” she says. The answer came just a few months ago, almost by accident. While organizing a yard sale in France, her aunt revealed that her father used to paint. She sent Romy photos of paintings by her grandmother and grandfather — works in which Romy instantly saw striking similarities to her own style.

“That’s when I wanted to bring that connection forward. My Christian grandmother in France — I loved her so much. And my Israeli grandmother, of Iraqi origin, here — I adore her. The blend of the two is what defines me,” Romy explains.

Romy loves drawing inspiration from great artists. She particularly admires the Italian painter Tintoretto and the Japanese artist Chiaruchiotta, who recently exhibited a yarn installation at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Traveling across Europe, leafing through family photo albums, admiring the architecture of her hometown, listening to music — for Romy, anything can spark creativity. It’s a boundless drive that she hones through her encounters and experiences.

Romy Attias

“Artists copy each other a lot — it’s not easy to stand out and offer something truly avant-garde, but I always try to reinvent myself,” she declares.

Her next project? Combining art and music — a natural step for someone who studied music for 11 years and knows that world intimately. Alongside musician friends, she is working on an ambitious video-art project that she hopes to present to the public very soon.

At just 21, Romy is boldly charting a course between heritage and innovation, with the promise of making waves in the art world far beyond her own borders.

Follow Romy on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/myro_s_art/

Caroline Haïat