Why don't we find figurative imagery in Muslim or Judaic art work?

Answer 1

The question makes some assumptions which are not entirely correct. While we do not have sculptures or paintings of God in Judaica, we do have paintings of people and animals in Judaica. In Islam, there are no such images.

In Judaism, the rationale for not having sculptures is that a person may feel inclined to worship the work of their hands. In Hebrew, there is no distinction between the word for sculpture and idol, which is pesel (פסל). The rationale for not depicting God in art is that Judaism holds that God is beyond any possible conception and to draw Him would be to limit Him. There are also laws limiting the permissibility of depicting humans (in statuary). See the Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 24b for details.

In Islam, the rationale for not creating figurative imagery is that doing so would be mocking God. Only God can create living creatures and peoples and so the attempt by a person to replicate this would be an affront to God. The Sunna holds that when an artist who created figurative artwork approaches the heavenly court he will be demanded to bring life to his creations. When he cannot, he will be told how he violated God's law.