Meydad Eliyahu (b. 1983, Mesilat Zion) is an artist, curator, and educator based in Jerusalem.

His work moves between drawing, painting, archival research, and community-based art, bridging conventional gallery spaces and public art contexts.

A central aspect of his practice stems from his roots in the Malabar Jewish community of Kerala, India. Long-term engagement with local histories, communities, and visual traditions has shaped his artistic language, with many projects involving diverse communities as active participants. This heritage deeply informs his exploration of memory, place, and cultural identity.

 

Among his key projects are Copper Wing at the Contemporary Art Center in Ramla (2022); Threshold at the Wilfrid Israel Museum of Asian Art and Studies in Israel (2020); Red Crown, Green Parrot, a public art project in Jew Town, Kochi, presented as part of the Kochi–Muziris Biennale (2018); and The Box of Documents at Kashi Gallery, a collateral exhibition of the Kochi–Muziris Biennale (2016).

Eliyahu has received multiple awards and grants, including the Plumas Art Foundation Grant (2023), the Memorial foundation for Jewish culture (2018, 2024) the Israel Ministry of Culture Award for a Young Artist (2016), the Jerusalem Print Workshop Grant (2012, 2020), the Shoshana Ish-Shalom Prize for a Work of Art (2011), and the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, Canada (2009 ).

He has taught at several institutions and contributed to many socially engaged art projects over the past decade. Eliyahu trained at the Jerusalem Studio School Master Class (2008), participated in the Summer Program at the International School of Painting, Drawing & Sculpture in Italy (2006), studied printmaking at the Jerusalem Print Workshop (2009–2010), and practiced Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and ink painting under Master Kazuo Ishii (2009–2011).

His works are held in private and public collections in Israel, the United States, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and India.