Artworks
Below is a curated selection of my work across animation, fine art, and children’s illustration. Each project represents a distinct chapter in my artistic practice, united by a deep commitment to storytelling, symbolism, and emotional resonance. From hand-drawn animations that blend folklore with contemporary themes, to fine art pieces rooted in Jewish mysticism and memory, to whimsical illustrations crafted for young readers, my work continues to explore the intersection of imagination, identity, and narrative. Whether through brush, ink, or motion, I strive to create images that speak across age and culture, inviting viewers into worlds that are both intimate and expansive.
Animation
Noch Am Leben (Still Alive)
Blue
BREAK - GEORGIA FAIR
fine art
portraits of survival
2025/25 exhibition at the melbourne holocaust museum
Opening on November 1st 2025, Portraits of Survival is an intimate exhibition honouring Holocaust survivors living in Australia. Through a series of painted portraits and personal testimonies, the exhibition offers a window into the resilience, memory, and spirit of those who lived through unimaginable horror and built new lives in a distant land. Each work captures not only a likeness but a legacy - a testament to survival, identity, and the enduring power of human dignity. Presented with reverence and urgency, Portraits of Survival ensures that these stories are not forgotten, but carried forward.
(below are some selected photos- the full selection will be viewable during the exhibition and beyond)
Kaddish - A Liturgy.
Listen to Kaddish, a Liturgy by the Bashevis Singers, here: https://ditto.fm/kaddish-by-the-ruins-a-liturgy
Books
The Seven Palaces of Breath
A children's book for adults and an adults' book for children, The Seven Palaces of Breath is a unique collaboration between a scholar of Kabbalah, Nathan Wolski, and award winning illustrator, Anita Lester.
Nathan Wolski's playful translation of Aaron Zeitlin's Yiddish mystical poem and Anita's psychedelic Chagall-like-Dali-esque illustrations bring Zeitlin's kabbalistic poem to life. A tale of wandering sages, flying wondrous beings, and adventures through celestial realms, The Seven Palaces of Breath is a journey through the mysteries of being.
Farmacopeia
In Dr Seuss meets Kabbalah, Australian scholar Nathan Wolski and artist Anita Lester reimagine Der Nister’s nearly century-old Yiddish folktales, The Hidden Farmacopeia, for modern readers. Described by Wolski as “Dr. Seuss meets Kabbalah,” the project blends whimsical storytelling with mystical themes.
Wolski, affiliated with Monash University’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation, initially sought to translate Aaron Zeitlin’s mystical Yiddish poem, The Seven Palaces of Breath, and reached out to Lester with his unique pitch. Their collaboration led to a new edition of The Hidden Farmacopeia, featuring 55 original black-and-white illustrations by Lester. The book presents the original Yiddish verses alongside English rhymes, capturing Der Nister’s fusion of Eastern European folklore and modernist symbolism.
Der Nister, a pseudonym meaning “The Hidden One” for Pinhas Kahanovitch, was a prominent Yiddish writer who aimed to craft a secular Jewish literary tradition. His tales, rich with animals, demons, and golems, offer profound lessons for both children and adults. Lester, inspired by Marc Chagall—who illustrated the original 1920s edition—found her artistic vision aligning closely with Chagall’s, even before viewing his works.
This collaboration not only revitalizes a classic of Jewish children's literature but also bridges traditional narratives with contemporary artistic expression.
Read about Farmacopeia here: https://thejewishindependent.com.au/dr-seuss-meets-kabbalah
The Glass Horse of Venice
Arnold Zabel x Penguin/text
Each morning on her way to school Claudia passes the glassblower’s workshop and admires the animals in the window, especially the winged horses, prancing, galloping, rearing in battle. One day the glassblower calls Claudia inside and gives her a damaged horse. It is beautiful, but its wings are broken. And Claudia sees only its imperfection.
When a terrible storm floods their home, Claudia and her family have to leave. The glass horse is packed away, all but forgotten. Until one night it comes to life. And takes Claudia flying through the night sky, back to her beloved Venice.
Arnold Zable’s picture story book The Glass Horse of Venice, sumptuously illustrated by Anita Lester, is a tale of the power of imagination that will delight children young and not so young.
https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/the-glass-horse-of-venice
