7 Beautiful Art Galleries in Israel

September 11th 2018

Something many new visitors to Israel soon notice are the many beautiful art galleries and exhibitions to be found throughout the country. The art on display is also so varied in style and origin. This mirrors the many different cultural influences brought with the diaspora Jews who returned to Israel over the last century, as well as from the local Arab population.

There’s so much art to be discovered when visiting Israel. From paintings and sculpture to embroidery, jewelry, and ceramics, there’s something for everyone to appreciate.

The following are some of the most popular Israeli art galleries and museums we think are well worth a visit if you happen to be nearby.

1. Ilana Goor Museum

Located in the old city of Jaffa, the Ilana Goor Museum is dedicated to the art collections of renowned Israeli artist Ilana Goor. The museum was founded in 1995, in what was once an inn for Jewish pilgrims travelling to Jerusalem. The beautiful interior houses paintings, sculptures, antiques, and video art, either created by Goor herself or collected during her extensive worldwide travels.

2. Olive Tree Fine Art Gallery

The Olive Tree Fine Art Gallery is situated in the historical quarter of old Safed, in northern Israel. This quarter is also well known for being an Artist’s colony and a center of Kabballah studies. The gallery itself displays artworks by local and national artists, and features styles from numerous different influences, including Jewish symbolism.

3. Museum of Psalms

Located in Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter, the Museum of Psalms is a museum/gallery featuring the work of the late religious artist Moshe Tzvi Halevi Berger. During his lifetime, Berger, a holocaust survivor, painted depictions of each of the 150 Psalms. Today visitors can purchase prints of these paintings and view other collections by the artist about prayer and faith.

4. Levantine Gallery

The Levantine Gallery can be found in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. It showcases art by local Arab artists and those from further afield who were artistically inspired by the Holy Land. While enjoying a glass of mint tea, you can browse collections of original artwork as well as prints, photography, sculptures, and art-inspired gifts.

5. Ein Hod Artists Village

Ein Hod is a little different to the other art centers we cover in this post. Instead of being an art gallery, Ein Hod is an entire artists’ colony! Located just south of Haifa in northern Israel, the village is one of the few of its kind in the whole world. 150 artists and their families live in the village and visitors can explore a multitude of mini art galleries in the artists’ homes and workshops.

The colorful and diverse colony also holds music events, lectures, theater performances, and educational activities.

6. Sheva Chaya Gallery

If you appreciate colorful glassware and paintings, then the Sheva Chaya Gallery will be a must-visit. Based in Tzfat’s (Safed) Artist Quarter, the gallery features the work of US-born Israeli artist Sheva Chaya. She is renowned for creating beautiful glass art and watercolor paintings which touch on themes such as the Land of Israel, the Torah, Jewish mysticism, and spirituality.

7. Tut Neyar Paper Mill

Love paper art and sustainable paper products? The Tut Neyar Paper Mill is based in Zichron Ya’akov, a town midway between Haifa and Hadera. Tut Neyar is a fully functioning family-run paper mill but which also features a gallery of their products. All their paper is made from the inner bark of the Paper Mulberry tree, which they grow themselves. They even provide workshops where you can make your own paper.