Shoshana Kertesz was born in Budapest, Hungary. For her artistic talent she was placed in an elementary school class that had special art education for the gifted. Kertesz studied visual arts at the Montazs Art School for four years. In 2003 she left Hungary and moved to Jerusalem, Israel. She continued to exhibit her artwork throughout Hungary and Israel. The works from this period show an orientation toward biblical and Jewish subjects. In her biblical paintings Kertesz uses strong expressions of solemnity and seriousness on the faces of her figures to convey the drama of the moment.