About Shaga
Meet ShaGa
Hi there!
I’m Sharon Garama (Shaga) Steinfeld, an artist who believes in the deep meaning of handmade work and in the magic of giving new life to forgotten materials. I grew up between two very different worlds — the busy, ambitious city life of Herzliya, and the calm, natural rhythms of my father’s farm, surrounded by sheep, goats, horses, and chickens. My work reflects this balance: city and nature, precision and creative freedom, tradition and innovation.
Art has been part of my life from an early age. I started studying painting and drawing at 12, and soon added singing, piano playing, and other visual arts to my creative journey. In 2011, I completed a course in Fashion Patternmaking while earning a bachelor’s in behavioral sciences, expanding my understanding of people and the world around me. Beyond formal studies, I’ve always followed my curiosity, exploring sculpting, knitting, and graphic designing. In 2022, I discovered book sculpting — and was immediately captivated by its magic.
The first book I created as a gift for a close friend*
Why books?
Books are much more than a collection of printed pages; they are carriers of memories, emotions, and dreams. I believe that everyone has at least one book that has profoundly impacted their life. For me, it was “The Alchemist” which I read at age 15, a book that helped shape my spiritual path in the world.
When I discovered that more than 320 million books are thrown into the trash every year around the world, I understood that using books in my artwork is not only an interesting artistic option but also a way to rescue and preserve part of our cultural heritage as a society. This is my way of honoring the past, creating in the present, and leaving something meaningful for the future.
I created my first two books as gifts for close friends, in which I sculpted their names, and was surprised by the intensity of the reactions. The excitement and joy I saw on their faces when they received such a unique and personal gift made my choice of books as the primary raw material in my work self-evident. I understood that this is an amazing way to spread the light and love within me to the world.
Over the past two years, I’ve focused on learning and practicing various book sculpting techniques. Through a process of trial and error, I’ve developed skills for creating complex shapes and improved various techniques. I continue to constantly explore and discover the infinite potential of books, and I invite you to follow the “Works Gallery” on the site, where I showcase new creations and developments.
The creative process
Every creation is a personal and unique journey. I begin with meticulous matching of the book to the chosen design, taking into account many parameters such as the tone of the pages, thickness, weight, and margin width.
In the next stage, I plan the work down to the smallest details. Working on each book requires careful planning, extensive calculations, and then – a steady hand and lots of patience. This is thoughtful craftsmanship that combines mathematics and intuition.
In the final stage, I go through the book page by page, measuring and marking, sometimes only folding and sometimes cutting miniature pieces from the page margins, according to the chosen technique. The individual treatment of each page of the book ultimately provides the complete picture of the chosen design.
Let's create together.
If you, like me, appreciate the beauty in books, believe in the importance of recycling and preservation, and are looking for a unique way to express emotions and immortalize memories – I invite you to create with me.
Whether it’s a gift for your loved ones or a personal creation for yourself, I’m here to turn your vision into tangible reality. Together, we can create something special that will stay with you forever – fold after fold, page after page.
Let’s create together a work that is more than just art – it’s a memory, it’s emotion, it’s heritage.