Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Tal Avitzur

Tal Avitzur is a found-object sculptor known for creating assemblage robots, creatures, spaceships and other fantasy-themed sculptures.

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Jul 22, 2026
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Tal Avitzur
Born1962 (age 63–64)
EducationLehigh University, UC Santa Barbara
Known forSculpture
Websitehttps://talbotics.com/


Tal Avitzur is a found-object sculptor known for creating assemblage robots, creatures, spaceships and other fantasy-themed sculptures.1234

Early life and education

Avitzur was born in 1962 in Haifa, Israel.5 He was raised in Allentown, PA. His father was a professor of metallurgy at Lehigh University.6 Avitzur received his B.A. in mathematics from Lehigh University in 19837 and his M.A. in mathematics from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1985.8

Career

While studying for his master's degree Avitzur lived in the Santa Barbara home of painter Irma Cavat9 and was her studio assistant. Cavat's home was also the winter studio for sculptor George Rickey. Avitzur worked for Rickey as well, both in Santa Barbara and East Chatham, NY. Avitzur also worked for ceramacist Beatrice Wood in Ojai, CA until her death in 1998. Avitzur credits his father's research with metals and his employment with various artists for his decision to become an artist. Avitzur's sculpture teacher was kinetic sculptor Ken Bortolazzo.10

Avitzur gathers materials for his sculptures from auto and marine salvage yards, scrap metal yards, garage and estate sales and flea markets.1112 He disassembles, cleans, polishes and sorts the parts.

Avitzur's sculptures have been displayed at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,13 Westmont College,1415 Sullivan Goss Gallery,16 Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop,1718 La Luz de Jesus Gallery,19 and the Bay Area Maker Faire20 Applied Kinetic Arts21 Group Gallery Space.22

Avitzur was included in Between Seer and Seen, a photo book of Santa Barbara County artists, released in 2013 by Mark Robert Halper.2324

Avitzur participated in a video and advertising campaign for financial and retirement services company Athene25 in 2021.26

In 2023 Avitzur organized the first Santa Barbara Uptown Artists Open Studio Tour.2728

Personal life

Avitzur lives with his wife, Lisa, in Santa Barbara, CA and occasionally teaches mathematics at Santa Barbara City College.29 His home, workshop and gallery are run on solar power and he drives an electric car.303132

External links
References

References

  1. Hayden, Tyler (2011-12-08). "Santa Barbotics". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  2. "Scrap metal gets new life as robot night lights". CNET. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  3. Avitzur, Tal (2017-11-23). "tal avitzur uses up-cycled parts to create fantasy-like creatures". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  4. "805 Living". online.publicationprinters.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  5. Talbotics. "Talbotics". Talbotics. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  6. "In Memoriam: Betzalel Avitzur, MSE Professor Emeritus and Metal-Forming Pioneer". Lehigh University News. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  7. Epitome: Yearbook 1983. Lehigh University Libraries. Lehigh University. 1983.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. 365Artists/365Days (2014-12-31). "Tal Avitzur – Santa Barbara, California". 365 Artists | 365 Days. Retrieved 2025-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. RecycleNation (2012-10-30). "Art Speak: Irma Cavat Talks Recycled Robots with Tal Avitzur". RecycleNation. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  10. "Daily Inspiration: Meet Tal Avitzur - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". Archived from the original on 2024-06-22. Retrieved 2026-02-02.
  11. Affair, Glamour (2018-11-13). "TAL AVITZUR". GlamourAffair (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  12. "Retro Robots". www.modernmetals.com. 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  13. Avitzur, Tal (2011-09-26), Weekend Outing, retrieved 2025-06-05
  14. Craig, Scott (May 19, 2026). "Local Artists Featured in 'Altered Realities'".
  15. Woodard, Josef (2026-06-05). "Selective Slice of Locavore Artistic Life". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  16. "Tal Avitzur | Artist Overview | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  17. https://www.sbcaw.org/
  18. "Santa Barbara Assemblage Artists Group Show". Art Week. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  19. BraddeCaussin. "La Luz de Jesus Presents Laluzapalooza 2012". laluzdejesus.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  20. https://bayarea.makerfaire.com/
  21. "Applied Kinetic Arts".
  22. Doctorow, Cory (2012-04-22). "Barbiebot and pals". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  23. "Fall 2013". Issuu. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  24. Halper, Mark Robert (2013). Between Seer and Seen: Celebrating the Artists of Santa Barbara County. Late Harvest Editions. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-9845538-2-2.
  25. https://www.athene.com/
  26. "Tal Avitzur Testimonial". www.athene.com. Archived from the original on 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  27. Victorino, Colette (2023-06-28). "Santa Barbara Uptown Open Studio Tour". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2026-05-04.
  28. Wilson, Joyce (April 24, 2026). "Discovery Awaits on the Uptown SB Artists Studio Tour". Voice News. p. 33.
  29. Mezic, Ana. "Video: Math teacher melds scraps into robot art". The Channels. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  30. "Artist turns tiny home into go-electric gallery | Rewiring America". www.rewiringamerica.org. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  31. "VOICE Magazine: August 16, 2024". Issuu. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  32. "Congressman Carbajal, California Homeowner, and Local Advocates Celebrate Second Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act With Front Porch Ribbon Cutting Event". U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal. 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2025-06-05.