Malka Kutner
Meet Malka Kutner, a new IWP volunteer whose adventurous life has taken her from Sydney to California and Portugal, with art, photography, business and music along the way.
(by Tess Robeson September 2026)
“Listen to your heart – it will take you to fascinating places!”
Malka Kutner, a new volunteer at IWP, helps manage our member page on Facebook, IWP Members Forum. “I will keep showcasing our wonderful events – actively promote them by posting pre- and post-event photos.”
Malka was born in Sydney, Australia, to British parents. “Malka is Hebrew for queen,” noted Malka. And the name Kutner, she explained, is from her grandparents’ Polish/Russian roots.
When Malka was 12 years old, her family moved to the U.S. They settled in San Diego, California. “I lived in San Diego for over 50 years,” said Malka, “then moved to San Luis Obispo, where I lived for four years.”
Malka studied Interior Design and Art. She met her first husband in college. The couple decided to open a restaurant and catering business. “We opened the first kosher restaurant in San Diego!” Their business proved to be successful. “We once catered to 28,000 people at a university function,” said Malka. “And we catered to a military ship in the region.”
After eight years in the restaurant/catering business, “working almost 24-7,” Malka and her husband decided to sell the restaurant. They also decided to go their own ways. She has a daughter by her first marriage.
Love came knocking a second time around some years later. Malka met her second husband “at a singles’ dance.” The couple have one son. One day her husband told her, “You’re so good with people. You should go into real estate.” Malka worked as a realtor for 20 years.
During all this time Malka has loved photography. “My father was a professional photographer. Photography was my hobby.” Over the years Malka took courses in photography and honed her skills photographing life and sports events. When the economic crash of 1998 adversely affected the real estate industry, Malka converted her hobby into a professional venture. “I took photos and made videos of real estate properties.” She was so good at it that her photos ended up being featured in home and garden magazines. She also won local photography competitions.
Malka’s business prospered. She had a team of photographers and offices in San Diego and San Luis Obispo. But tragedy struck. Malka’s husband passed away. She was left to raise her daughter and her son.
Today her daughter lives in California with her family, including Malka’s two grandchildren. Her son had been living in Lisbon. Malka decided to follow him to Portugal and made the move in May 2025. Her son met a lady he fell in love with, and the two moved to Israel in May this year.
Malka lives in São João do Estoril. “I joined IWP before I even landed here,” she said. “IWP is the best thing that has happened to me here. The people are warm and friendly.”
In her travels in Portugal, Malka was drawn to azulejos. “So many colours! Such creative designs! I took hundreds of photographs of these tiles.” Not one to retire just yet, Malka turned her passion into a business. She created enlarged canvas prints of her tile photographs, “offering expats a beautiful way to bring a piece of Portugal into their homes.” Her work (which can be viewed on patternsofportugal.art on Instagram) has been exhibited in Lisbon.
Malka is also a hand drummer. “I play African drums. In the U.S. I facilitated ‘drum circles’ for over 30 years.” She found her musical outlet in Lisbon “at the pub Quimera, where local musicians jam every Sunday evening.”
Malka is a positive thinker. “Life is to be enjoyed,” reflected Malka. “Listen to your heart – it will take you to fascinating places!”