Your Very Own Litvinovsky Portrait

Imagine stepping into an artist’s studio, sitting for a portrait, and watching as a masterpiece takes shape—one that captures your essence in the unmistakable style of a legendary painter. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, visitors to Beit Avi Chai’s Pinchas Litvinovsky exhibition can do just that.

In the exhibition, "You Must Choose Life – That Is Art," Beit Avi Chai proudly showcases the work of Pinchas Litvinovsky (1894–1985), one of Israel’s most influential artists. Born in Novogeorgievsk (modern-day Ukraine) to a religious Jewish family, Litvinovsky’s artistic journey took him from Palestine to Europe and back, ultimately settling in Jerusalem’s Katamon neighborhood. A fiercely independent artist, he neither aligned himself with any artistic movement nor consistently exhibited his work. He rarely signed or dated his paintings, sold few of them beyond his portraits, and seemed indifferent to the commercial art world.

Yet, his influence was undeniable. In 1980, he received the Israel Prize, and throughout his lifetime, he painted more than 6,000 works. Tragically, after his passing, many of his paintings were destroyed, leaving only about 600 surviving pieces. This exhibition brings together some of the most exceptional works from what remains, offering a rare glimpse into the stylistic diversity and artistic legacy of Litvinovsky.

An AI-Powered Artistic Experience
For the first time at Beit Avi Chai, visitors can engage with Litvinovsky’s art in an interactive and innovative way. At a specially designed AI station, guests step into a small studio space, where a camera captures their portrait. Then, within seconds, they receive four digital versions of themselves—each rendered in a different Litvinovsky-inspired style.

These AI-generated portraits offer a unique opportunity: to see oneself through the eyes of a master artist. Visitors can choose their favorite version, receive it via email, or, in a nod to the tragic fate of many of Litvinovsky’s original works, opt to erase the images entirely.

Bringing Litvinovsky Back into the Spotlight
The exhibition was curated by Amichai Chasson, Beit Avi Chai’s art director for the past decade, assisted by Rika Grinfeld Barnea, under the guidance of BAC Executive Director Dr. David Rozenson. Chasson explains that, at the time of his death, Litvinovsky was deeply embedded in Israel’s artistic DNA. His recent obscurity, Chasson argues, is not a reflection of his work’s significance but rather the result of shifting trends in the Israeli art scene.

His decision to leave most of his works unsigned and undated also posed a curatorial challenge. “It was difficult to structure a retrospective spanning nearly a century,” Chasson says. Instead of presenting the works chronologically, the exhibition is arranged by style—grouping his portraits of politicians (including Ben-Gurion) in one section, rabbis in another, and his more surrealistic works elsewhere.

The Role of AI in Litvinovsky’s Legacy
While preparing the exhibition, the curatorial team noticed just how many different styles Litvinovsky used in his portraits. This led to an intriguing question: If he were painting today’s audience, how would he depict them?

To explore this idea, they turned to Alon Chitayat, an artist, educator, and AI expert, who worked with software developer Avinoam Cooper to create an AI model that emulates Litvinovsky’s styles.

How the AI Captures Litvinovsky’s Artistry
Chitayat and his team identified four primary styles in Litvinovsky’s portraits:
1. The Rabbi Portraits – capturing traditional Jewish figures.
2. The Political Figures – portraying Israel’s founding leaders.
3. Matisse-esque Works – a style inspired by French modernism.
4. Pastel Sketches – reflecting Litvinovsky’s softer, more intimate compositions.

Training the AI to replicate these styles was no easy task. “Litvinovsky was constantly reinventing himself,” Chitayat explains. “We had to describe his brushwork, color schemes, composition, and subject matter to the AI. The results were fascinating.”

But, as with any AI learning process, there were unexpected challenges. For example, the AI initially misidentified tefillin as small hats, causing some visitors’ portraits to feature tiny, misplaced headpieces. Other adjustments had to be made to correct gender representation since Litvinovsky painted more men than women.

Balancing Resemblance and Style
Another challenge was ensuring each AI-generated portrait remained recognizable while still reflecting Litvinovsky’s artistic touch. “We wanted visitors to see themselves in the art, but also to feel like the paintings could have been made by Litvinovsky himself,” Chitayat says. To achieve this, the team built a custom AI engine instead of using commercial AI tools, ensuring each portrait was entirely unique and true to the artist’s spirit.

Litvinovsky and the Playfulness of Art
Would Litvinovsky have approved of this technological experiment?
Chasson believes so. “He loved games. He took his work seriously, but he saw play as an essential part of the artistic process.”

The project also raises thought-provoking questions about authorship in the age of AI. Who is the true creator of these AI-generated paintings? The original artist, the AI designers, or the visitors themselves?

“This was one of the most fascinating aspects of the project,” Chitayat reflects. “Technology allows us to interact with art in ways we never could before. It’s not a replacement for the original—it’s a way to engage with it on a deeper level.”

A Meaningful Encounter with the Past
The integration of AI marks Beit Avi Chai’s first major step into digital art, but it won’t be the last. Chasson is already considering new ways to incorporate technology into future exhibitions, including one about the photographer Aliza Orbach.

The AI station has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many visitors even using their Litvinovsky-inspired portraits as their profile pictures on social media. But for Chitayat, one moment stands out above all others:

“At the opening event, Litvinovsky’s grandson sat for an AI portrait,” he recalls. “After seeing the final result, he said: ‘This is the first time I’m getting my portrait done by my grandfather.’”

It was a poignant reminder that, when used thoughtfully, technology can bridge generations—creating something deeply personal, warm, and profoundly human.

Explore More
For more about the life and legacy of Pinchas Litvinovsky, visit our series
Rediscovering the Past, Empowering the Future

Visit the Exhibition in Person or Online!
• Free required registration for a personal visit to the exhibition at the Beit Avi Chai Gallery, 44 King George Street, Jerusalem
• Online Exhibition "You Must Choose Life – That Is Art: Pinchas Litvinovsky" 

Main Photo: Images generated by the AI system at the Pinchas Litvinovsky exhibition at Beit Avi Chai.