Art and designסולטנה סורוז'ון

Sultana Suruzhon

Sultana Suruzhon was a Bulgarian-born Jewish modernist painter, known for her portraits, who worked in Bulgaria, France and Israel.

1904 to 1961Modernist portrait paintingExhibiting at the Grand PalaisLandscapes and daily life in Israel

Born: 12 May 1904, Novi Pazar
Died: 18 January 1961, Bat Yam
Occupation: painter
Education: National Academy of Arts

Sultana Suruzhon was born in 1904 in Novi Pazar

Suruzhon was born in Novi Pazar to a Jewish family. Her father Shabtai was a merchant, and her mother Esther was a Zionist activist in WIZO. In 1919 the family moved to Sofia.

She studied at the art academy in Sofia. She became known for her portraits, and her work was shown in several exhibitions in Sofia. She was also active in feminist movements.

In 1938 she moved to Paris and joined the guild of independent artists. Her paintings were shown at the Grand Palais. She returned to Bulgaria in 1939 and later worked as a painting teacher.

In 1953 she immigrated to Israel and lived in Holon, where she faced financial hardship. She traveled around the country painting landscapes and daily life, and exhibited in Barcelona and in Israel. She was killed in a road accident in Bat Yam and buried in Kiryat Shaul cemetery.