When awarding him the prize, the judges described the artist as someone who was “notable in his talent, originality and daring as one of the most original conceptual artists in Israel.
“He offered a riveting version of involved radical-political art. In the 1980s, he led a bold move with his free and wild paintings, dealing with Israeli mythologies and topics related to the Jewish spiritual world.”
Israeli officials said the reason he refused to attend the ceremony was because he did not want to shake hands with Mr Sharon.
Mr Gershuni, who was born in Tel Aviv in 1936, petitioned the High Court of Justice over the rebuke but failed.
The painter studied art at the Avni Institute of Art and Design, where artists such as Avigdor Steimatzky and Yehezkel Streichman, were among his contemporaries.
The Givon Gallery in Tel Aviv, which represented the artist, said: “The sorrow and pain at his loss are great – we still can’t accept it,”
Gallery owner Naomi Givon added: “His paintings impacted my life and the course of this gallery. Without him, I wouldn’t have devoted my life to art. The gallery displayed many of his works. I considered him the national artist, along with Ullman.”
Sculptor Ullman said Mr Gershuni was “the soul of Israeli art, with his art coming from his gut rather than his head. His art was passionate and uncompromising. He mixed the personal with national and political themes. His art was like an ongoing cry of sadness over what was happening here.”
The Israel Museum hosted his first solo exhibition in 1969 and two years later he started teaching at Bezalel, the Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem.
His rebellious side was demonstrated early on, as he famously led a student and lecturers' rebellion against the institution’s management.
He was forced to resign and went on to teach at the Beit Berl School of Arts, where he built up a reputation as a charismatic and influential teacher.
Before his death the painter asked for there to be no funeral of shiva. He is survived by his partner Juan Garcia, his three children and his sister.
