Binyamin Laukstein
Binyamin Laukstein (בנימין לאוקשטיין) is an Israeli artist and software developer.
His award-winning work bridges art and Web innovation and is driven by curiosity, a commitment to craft, and a desire to contribute to a better world.
Where it Began
Before my birth I saw a light and felt peace and complete harmony.
Binyamin Laukstein
Binyamin Laukstein was born in 1985 in Latvia.
Already as a small kid, he was drawn to art, technology, and science. His sketchbooks were filled with drawings and paintings, and windows were regularly covered with works left to dry. He was unscrewing watches and toys to learn how they work. He experimented with different techniques, combined materials, created objects, and developed a strong attraction to minimalism and realism — always looking to explore more.
Getting into Art
I am very thankful for my family's support and my teachers' confidence in me.
In his early years in kindergarten, the children were given clay to improvise and create "art." Most were unsure what to do — but Laukstein formed a bowl. Teacher Inara Cerbaha noticed his creativity and advised his mother to send him to art school. Years later, at age eight, Laukstein began art studies at Dundaga Art School, led by artist Ausma Goldberga, at Dundaga Castle.
My great grandfather's uncle, an artist, said: there is no bigger opportunity to become a great artist than by studying in JRRMV.
Velta Lauksteine
In 2000, Laukstein became the first in Dundaga's history to be accepted into Janis Rosenthal Art College (JRRMV). Academic art studies were demanding, with different approaches from each artist-teacher and especially high expectations in fine arts, classic painting, and drawing.
While in JRRMV I was especially excellent in Web design. I picked a challenge to make my final work in fine art and paint an uncapturable moment for eyes.
In 2005 he graduated as an Artist in Visual Arts with the final work "Water Splash", led by artist Aija Jurjane.
Thirteen years of formal art studies brought him recognition and appreciation across multiple countries.
Move to Israel
Different norms, language, and culture... It took time to become one, to be a part of the Jewish people. And I am very proud of it and thankful to God.
Laukstein felt different from others. He cared about being truthful with himself and others, and years before graduating from JRRMV he discovered the existence of the Jewish people and found answers to his beliefs in Judaism.
After graduation, in 2005, he moved to Israel and converted to Judaism.
Award in Web Innovation
In 2001 I became passionate about how the Web works and how easily it changes the world's knowledge. Since then I make the Web a better place and in my spare time propose Web standards and UX concepts, advise companies, and innovate.
At age 16, Laukstein spent evenings exploring computer science, design, and Web development during his time at JRRMV. Alongside his formal art studies, he continued studying the Web autodidactically and volunteered in various projects and activities. Wanting to test his abilities beyond art and design, he applied in 2012 to the HTML5FEST contest, held as part of HTML5FEST 2012 — an Israeli Web innovation conference organized by the W3C Israel in collaboration with the Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL), where his work was awarded 2nd place.
At age 23 he got his first computer. Until then, he designed and developed on shared public PCs and phones, sketched Web designs on paper, and even wrote code in a notebook.
Art is a Lifestyle
Art is a way I see the world. I see art and its connections everywhere, in life, nature, attitude, speech, organizing things, and making decisions.