Over the last few decades, Israel’s art and culture scene has grown by leaps and bounds, and Tel Aviv is at the epicenter of it all. From graffiti street art tours and virtual visits to public and private galleries of all sizes, art can be found around every corner. Tel Aviv’s vibrant energy pervades the entire city, and the city’s reputation as an artistic and cultural hotspot is well deserved. The streets of Tel Aviv are densely packed with art galleries, ranging from the cool, lofty ceilings of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art to the atmospheric, quaint boutiques of Neve Tzedek, making it difficult to decide where to go first. Here are our recommendations for the best art galleries in Tel Aviv.
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The Best Art Galleries in Tel Aviv
Chelouche Gallery for Contemporary Art
This building, designed by architect Joseph Berlin, is not only a notable example of neoclassical architecture in 1920s Tel Aviv, but it also houses some of the country’s most unusual contemporary art pieces. Chelouche Gallery exhibits a wide range of work, from video art to sculpture, installation, and photography.
Sommer Contemporary Art Gallery
The Sommer Contemporary Art Gallery is a great place to discover both emerging and established Israeli artists, and it is especially known for encouraging artistic exchange and development. The “S2” project room hosts small-scale exhibitions featuring the work of emerging artists, curated by the artists themselves, and the gallery is able to invite international artists to create unique installations and projects in its gallery space thanks to its well-established connections with artists, museums, and publishing houses around the world. Located on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv’s cultural heart, visitors can continue their cultural experience at one of the many nearby art galleries, such as the Hezi Cohen gallery on Lilienblum Street or the Urban Gallery, which is also on Rothschild Boulevard.
The Bauhaus Center
The Bauhaus Center is much more than a gallery. Its permanent exhibition is intended to allow visitors to discover and admire the Bauhaus structures that earned the city the moniker “The White City.” Every Friday at 10 a.m., professional guides from the Bauhaus Center lead tours (in English, Hebrew, and German) of Tel Aviv’s most famous and significant Bauhaus buildings. The Bauhaus Center is just a few steps away from the famous Dizengoff fountain, which is an artistic marvel in and of itself. Daily audio guides in a variety of languages are available, and private tours are available upon request.
Stern Gallery
One of the best art galleries in Tel Aviv, the Stern gallery was founded in 1971 by Londoner Meir Stern, who still runs it today, and takes pride in displaying works by the best established and emerging artists, such as Anna Ticho, Menashe Kadishman, and Yigal Tumarkin. The religious art collection features artists from all over the world, with a focus on the “School of Paris,” a large group of primarily Jewish European artists who gathered in Paris between World Wars. The Stern Gallery, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations, is offering virtual tours via its website, and private tours to see specific works of art can be scheduled individually.
Rubin Museum
The four-story museum on Bialik Street was once the home of artist Reuben Rubin, and the paintings housed there cover a wide range of subjects, including local landscapes, animals, Judaism, and early Tel Aviv life. His love of Israel unites them despite their differences. There are images of early Zionist immigrants, biblical stories, and still lifes of Israeli produce and scenery on display. Continue your exploration of Tel Aviv’s early history by visiting the Bialik House, the former residence of poet Chaim Nachman Bialik. Be’it Hair, the local history museum, is also on the same street.
Sommer Contemporary Art
Sommer Contemporary Art Gallery has been committed to promoting Israeli artists in the international art scene, as well as representing and exhibiting leading international artists in Israel and abroad, since its inception in 1999. Young curators are given the opportunity to put on small-scale exhibitions of emerging artists in the gallery’s project room “S2.”
Gordon Gallery
The Gordon Gallery is located on the outskirts of Jaffa. The Gordon is an art gallery and auction house that was founded in 1966 and is well-known for providing a foundation for outstanding local artists. The Gordon is more than just a place to see art; it’s also a place to talk about it. The gallery hosts artist talks and lectures on a regular basis, and it has published catalogues and art books. This is the place to be if you want to keep up with the latest contemporary artists or learn about the Israeli art scene.