Biographical Milestones​

Born as Eliahu Golkovich on 19.1.1919 in the Dokshitz, Belarus

The family moved to Wilejka in the Vilna Governorate, Poland

Studied in a government Polish gymnasium

Immigrated to Israel on his own, and settled in Haifa

Studied architecture at the Technion, Haifa

Quit architecture studies and joined Kibbutz Nir Haim and Kibbutz Maor Haim

Worked as a dockhand and a seaman at Haifa’s port

Joined the Royal Engineers in the British Army and served in Pre-State Israel and North Africa

Studied at Avni Studio – “The Painting and Sculpting Studio near Tel Aviv Workers’ Council” under the direction of the artist Aharon Avni

Moved to Cairo and enrolled in courses arranged by the British Army at the art academy

Released from the British Army and settled in Tel Aviv

Studied in Yehezkel Streichman and Avigdor Stematsky’s “The Studia” until the War of Independence

Drafted as a machine gunner in IDF’s Alexandroni Brigade

Married the painter Lea Nikel    

Registered as a member in the Painters and Sculptures Association

Received an award in memory of the sons of six artists who fell in the War of Liberation (with Moshe Tamir and Shoshana Heimann)

His marriage to Lea Nikel ended

Co-founded The Ten group and participated in all its exhibitions (1951-1960)

Married Chaya (née Zig)

Made his first trip to Paris

Trained with Ori Reisman and Michael Gross under the painter Jean Souverbie at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris

Returned to Israel and set up a studio in Old Jaffa

Started painting monochromatic views of Jaffa, Acre, Nazareth, Safed, and other locations

From this year on, Gat participated in most of the general exhibitions of the Painters and Sculptures Association

Studied in the Art Teachers School in Tel Aviv, and started working as an art teacher in different schools

His son Ehud (Udi) was born

Discovered the fate of his family who perished in the Holocaust

Exhibited a duo show at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art with Efraim Lifshitz

Received the Histadrut Artist Award

Exhibited a duo show at the Jerusalem Artists’ House with Efraim Lifshitz

Painted the abstract watercolors series

Exhibited a solo show at the Tel Aviv Artists House

Signed the manifesto of Tazpit (An Israeli Exhibition of Painting and Sculpting) exhibition at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Exhibited a solo show at Dugit Gallery, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at the Negev Museum, Beersheba    

Returned to oils color and started developing affinities to impressions of reality in his abstract language of painting

Started spending every summer in Safed

Directed the Bat Yam Art Institute

Exhibited a solo show at Bat Yam Museum

Started teaching at HaMidrasha Art Teacher’s College in Tel Aviv, which later moved to

Herzliya and then to Ramat HaSharon

Exhibited a solo show at Dugit Gallery, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at Holon Gallery of Art, Holon

Exhibited a solo show at Lim Gallery, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at Katz Gallery (Idan Gallery), Tel Aviv

Bought and renovated a house and a studio in the Artists Quarter in Safed

Received an art teachers award from the Ministry of Education

Exhibited a solo show at the Jerusalem Artists’ House

Founded the group Aclim with Rachel Shavit, and participated in all its exhibitions

Started creating paintings on the subject of women-landscape

Exhibited a solo show at the Holon Art Gallery

His marriage to Chaya ended

Started his relationship with the painter Rachel Shavit

Co-initiated and directed with Rachel Shavit workshops of painting in nature throughout Israel with the artists of Aclim, guests, and students

Exhibited a solo show at Beit Leyvik, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at Katia Granoff Gallery, Paris

Exhibited a solo show at Center of Visual Art, Beersheba

Received the Dizengoff Artist Prize from Tel Aviv Municipality (with Raffi Lavie)

Exhibited a solo show at the Jerusalem Artists’ House

Exhibited a solo show at Haifa Museum of Modern Art

Taught at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem

Served as chairman of the Painters and Sculptures Association

Exhibited a solo show at Beit Leyvik, Tel Aviv

Was sent with Rachel Shavit to the artists’ residency The Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris by the Ministry of Education

Traveled to the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy

Returns to Israel

Had a heart attack and later suffered a stroke. While this left him half paralyzed, he continued to paint and exhibit in shows

Exhibited a retrospective show at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Exhibited a solo show at Beit Leyvik, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at the New Gallery, Aba Hushi House, Tel Aviv

Exhibited a solo show at the Tel Aviv Artists House

Exhibited a solo show at Center of Visual Art, Beersheba

Exhibited a duo show with Rachel Shavit at Arad Museum

Passed away on 13.10,1987 in Safed

Was buried in Safed cemetery