"Avner Moriah is one of the first generation of Israeli-born artists. Moriah's works, which reflect his roots in Western art as well as the atmosphere and inspiration of the Middle East, can be found in the collections of major museums and libraries in the United States and abroad, as well as in private collections around the world. Born in Jerusalem in 1953, Moriah holds a B.F.A. from the Bezalel Academy of Art and Architecture, and an M.F.A from Yale University's Graduate School of Art and Architecture. His current project is to create an illuminated Torah – the Five Books of Moses – of which the Book of Genesis has been completed. This monumental work has already been acquired by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Vatican, The Library of Congress, Harvard University, Yale University, UCLA, The Jewish Theological Seminary Library, and private collectors. Moriah has also illuminated the Passover Haggadah and Megillat Esther."