Background
Shmuel Levi (Ophel) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Shmuel Levi (Ophel) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria.
1901-1905 National Academy of Arts, Sofia
1906 Bezalel Academy
1913 Académie Julian, Paris.
The name Opal was added by him as a pen name, yet at some point Levi abandoned lieutenant His artwork stressed the Orientalist style especially seen the Yemenite Jews. After completing his studies in the gymnasia, he began his studies at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia.
With the establishment of the Bezalel Academy in 1906, Levi immigrated to the Land of Israel at the invitation of Boris Schatz.
While at the Academy, Levi organized the first choir at Bezalel. Levi spoke of the praise he was given as well as the financial reward which resulted form his exhibition in Czarist Russia.
This success allowed him to study in the Académie Julian, Paris in 1913. While in Paris he participated in the French "Orientalist" exhibition.
Upon his return to the Land of Israel, at the start of the First World War, Levi was active in the local art scene.
In 1920, Levi was among the founders of the Jewish Artist Association and chaired their first committee. In 1931, he exhibited in the Galerie Sélection in France. Levi was among the founders of the Beit Haam (see Hebrew article מרכז ז"ראר בכר) in Jerusalem and decorated the building with painted walls and ceilings.
His artwork is found among the collections of many museums including the Musée du Luxembourg, Paris.
1901-1905 National Academy of Arts, Sofia Bezalel Academy Hebrew Teachers" College Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, Jerusalem Lemmel Elementary School, Jerusalem 1912 exhibition in Czarist Russia 1914 "Orientalist" Association exhibition in Paris 1921 Participated in the first annual international exhibition of the Jewish Artist Association at the Tower of David 1927 exhibition at the house of Yosef Eliyahu Chelouche, Tel Aviv 1931 exhibited in the Galerie Sélection in France 1960 retrospective exhibition, the Tel Aviv Museum and at the Jerusalem Artists House.