Ketubah Design
I create thoughtful, custom-designed Jewish and interfaith marriage contracts (ketubot).
I made my first ketubah for my own wedding, and then I was asked to design a few custom ketubot for friends. Working on those, I discovered how much fun the process could be and how much I learn from each one I make.
I work with couples to understand their aesthetic, help them develop their vision, and bring their ideas to life.
I begin by listening to couples reflect on the values they’d like their design to embody and taking notes as they share reactions to art I show in a variety of styles. I then plan and create a piece of unique artwork to accompany their ketubah, brit ahuvim, or home-written marriage contract text.
If you’re in the market for a marriage contract, we might be a good fit for each other if you…
want a piece of art that reflects your identity, heritage, values, partnership, or other abstract concepts in a visual way
hope to make your own updates to an existing text or write your text from scratch
aren’t sure what you’re looking for, but know it’s not something you’ve seen elsewhere.
Please contact me if you’d like to work together or learn more.
Banner photo credit: Kevin Goddard Photography
M & D wanted a traditional-looking ketubah that incorporated patterns from the historical ketubot of eight of their countries of heritage: Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Syria, Turkey, Venezuela, and Egypt. The shapes in the overall composition are inspired by the architecture of the synagogue in Alexandria where M's grandparents got married two generations ago. The text is featured in three languages. Watercolor and gouache on paper, 30" x 22".
L & J knew that they were drawn to blues and greens and that they valued community, social justice, and Yiddish. I incorporated those values into the design with the Jewish symbolism of the number ten (community), myrtle leaves (justice), and golden peacocks (Yiddish arts and culture). The night sky with stars represents L & J's mutual love of science and science fiction. The pine trees evoke Pinewoods dance camp, which they regularly attend, and Celtic and Armenian-inspired patterns throughout the piece connect to their musical interests and cultural heritage. The text is featured in three languages. Gouache on paper, 30" x 22".
This frame for C & N's Pennsylvania legal marriage license is my first Philadelphia-inspired ketubah. The painting evokes C & N's favorite plants and the doorway to their shared home. Watercolor and gouache on Arches watercolor paper, 20" x 16".
The symbolism in this ketubah reflects J and S's commitment to intentionality, mindfulness, and emotional vulnerability with one another, as well as their shared sense of humor, connection to Park City, Utah, and love of farmer's markets and ceramics.
S & S's original English-Hebrew-Zoroastrian Brit Ahuvim are surrounded by the color crimson and ink drawings of many places, objects, and interests they share a love for. Gouache and pen on Arches paper, 22" x 28".
M & N's ketubah combines elements of Central Park, NY; Telluride, CO; and Williamstown, MA -- where they met, got engaged, and got married, respectively -- into an imagined landscape. Gouache on paper, 22" x 22".
L & A felt connected to their respective heritages and to the home they built together by food: bourekas, challah, dumplings, stir fries, bagels... Their ketubah is set in a kitchen similar to their own, with many of their cooking appliances and decorations featured in the still life. Gouache on paper, 20" x 20".
M & A challenged me to incorporate the following elements into their ketubah: the Brooklyn Bridge, the rocky shorelines of Massachusetts, a wildflower garden teeming with life, a challah, croissants, bagels, carrots, beet greens, squash blossoms, blueberries, a pie, tomatoes, and a rolling pin. Each of these places and things is special to their relationship, and they represent both grounding and growth. Mazel tov, A & M!
This ketubah for an interfaith wedding was inspired by S & T's love of nature, geometric patterns, and greens and blues. Giclee print of original watercolor, 20" x 20".
The mosaic motif in this ketubah reflects the mosaic tiling outside the A & N's wedding venue in Baltimore, MD. The flowers and foliage featured in the design grow in the various cities A & N consider home. Gouache on paper, 22" x 22".
M & B had a clear sense of shared aesthetic: they love color blocks and geometric patterns, and their home is filled with them. Their ketubah design was inspired by their wedding venue -- a nonprofit bookstore with a spiral staircase.