When thinking of contemporary Israeli gay and queer artists – the name Yochai Matos immediately comes to mind.

Matos (b. 1977), a graduate of Bezalel Academy of arts (2004), is a Tel Aviv based contemporary Israeli artist, who creates unique installations made primarily using fluorescent tube lights. using the ubiquitous piece of hardware, Matos uses it as a sculpting medium by arranging the lights in unusual formations that remove them from their original use. Matos’ works also utilize colour to add another almost painterly quality to his projects. Matos also creates non-light-based pieces that range from collage, photography and public interventions including his “You’ve Got Mail” project which placed 24,000 heart-shaped stickers on mailboxes around Tel Aviv.
Matos is also one of the founders and producers of the renowned local queer techno party – KOK-SHOCK, in which he incorporated his light installations, visual and performance art and video. After producing his own solo exhibitions (2008-2013) in Tel Aviv’s most prominent galleries, and being featured in 2018 Fresh Paint festival, Matos continues to create and produce queer events and art in Tel Aviv, and abroad.