Michael Gitlin, born 1943
The 1 Most Famous Michael Gitlin Paintings, Ranked
The best-loved painting by Michael Gitlin is A Simple Line (1978), which hangs in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Our catalogue holds 1 works by Michael Gitlin: here are the 1 most famous, each with its year, its museum and what makes it memorable.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026.
- Born · died
- born 1943, Cape Town
- Works in our catalogue
- 1
- Most famous
- A Simple Line (1978)
- Most works at
- Israel Museum
Top 10 Michael Gitlin paintings: the canvases everyone knows
Where Michael Gitlin's canvases hang
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Michael Gitlin | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Israel Museum |
Jerusalem | 1 | A Simple Line |
Michael Gitlin's best-loved canvases, year by year
Every dated canvas by Michael Gitlin on this page was painted in 1978; here they are, the most famous first.
-
1978
Canvas 1 of 1A Simple Line
About Michael Gitlin's canvases: your questions answered
What is the best-known painting by Michael Gitlin?Read the answer
A Simple Line (1978).
What age was Michael Gitlin when A Simple Line was painted?Read the answer
Michael Gitlin, born in 1943, was 35 years old: A Simple Line dates from 1978.
How many works did Michael Gitlin paint in all?Read the answer
1 works by Michael Gitlin are in our catalogue.
Where can I see Michael Gitlin's most famous canvases?Read the answer
Mostly in Israel Museum (Jerusalem); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
Michael Gitlin: a life in paint
The Form and Space of Michael Gitlin
Michael Gitlin is a contemporary sculptor, painter, printmaker, and university teacher. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, his family emigrated to Israel in 1948. His academic background includes studying English Literature and Art History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, alongside studies at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Gitlin later moved to New York City, where he earned an MFA from the Pratt Institute.
His artistic practice is characterized as abstract and reductive. Gitlin began his career working in three dimensions, utilizing paper as a medium rather than a support, and later transitioned to working with wood. Many of his sculptures are wall pieces that rely on architecture for physical and contextual support. In recent years, his material palette has expanded to include steel wool, copper wire, foam, and black spandex, while drawing remains a demanding component of his project.
Exhibitions and Academic Career
Gitlin's work has been exhibited in numerous international locations, including the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, the ICC Antwerp, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. His museum shows have spanned from the Kunsthalle Mannheim to the Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen. His sculptures are held in various prestigious collections, such as the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the British Museum in London.
Throughout his career, Gitlin has held teaching positions at several notable institutions, including: