More than 200 curated Israeli artworks were on display in New York City last week as part of the inaugural Art Up Nation exhibition. The initiative showcased the vibrancy of the art scene in Israel and featured one-of-a-kind works from more than 70 artists.
More than 1,500 people visited the exhibit, purchasing 153 pieces of art. The $500,000 in proceeds all went to the artists.
“Art Up Nation serves as a vital window to the rich and diverse art scene in Israel, a scene infused with great talent, creativity, originality and energy,” said Keren Bar-Gil, Art Up Nation’s curator. “This platform allows Israeli artists to express their voices and visions during one of the most challenging periods in Israel’s history.”
Since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, art has become a critical and ubiquitous coping mechanism for the daily challenges and traumas Israelis have been facing. Given the role art can play in the healing process, a group of volunteers came together to design Art Up Nation. The launch in New York provided wider exposure to the artists and their work.
Artists onsite included Ohad Matalon, Iddo Markus, Ronen Sharabani, Racheli Sharfstein, Daniel Tchetchik and Lila Chitayat.
Art Up Nation was supported by a generous group of philanthropic donors who covered all expenses as a way to ensure that all proceeds from the art sales went directly to the artists. In addition, El Al Israel Airlines generously flew all the artworks from Israel to New York.
Simon Newton-Smith, El Al senior vice president of the Americas, said “this partnership underscores El Al’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange and supporting the global arts community. By enabling these talented artists to present their work on an international stage, El Al highlights the transformative power of art in connecting people and cultures across the world.”
In conjunction with the four-day exhibit, The iCenter hosted an exclusive event for their alumni based in the tri-state area. Keren Bar Gil, curator of Art Up Nation, and several Israeli artists shared their vision and works, followed by a discussion with The iCenter’s Michael Soberman about how to bring Israeli artwork, as well as the artists’ personal stories, into learning communities.
