Artist Brings the Rebbe to the Barcelona Metro

By COLlive reporter

An art exhibition about to launch in the Metro in Barcelona, Spain, features one surprising piece of artwork.

From June 15 to June 28, the Passeig de Gràcia station will host The Art Tunnel, a temporary exhibition of billboard art by 837 artists from 38 countries. Among them is Michelle Levy, a British-Israeli artist who chose to portray a figure of great spiritual significance: The Lubavitcher Rebbe.

Levy, who specializes in vibrant Judaic and Israel-themed art, was inspired by one of the Rebbe’s quotes: “We must not only illuminate our homes, but also the outside, and the world,” she says.

“[This] served as my inspiration for this project,” the artist wrote. “It speaks to the idea that our responsibility to bring light and positivity extends beyond our personal spaces and into the world at large. This concept felt particularly relevant in the context of the metro, a public space that is shared by people from all walks of life.

“My colourful and joy filled artwork of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was designed to capture his essence and the inspiring ways in which he has helped and encouraged people to connect around the globe. The Rebbe’s image, displayed in this exhibition, serves as a beacon of light in the underground tunnels of the metro, reminding us of our collective responsibility to illuminate the world with kindness, love, understanding, and compassion,” Levy said.

The colorful artwork features the Rebbe surrounded by images of people performing Mitzvos, such as a girl lighting Shabbos candles, 2 men wearing Tefillin, a person giving Tzedaka and what appear to be Jewish books. The artwork also includes an image of 770, and what appear to be people heading towards it from many different directions.

The Art Tunnel is an initiative of Expometro, a platform that aims to democratize art and make it accessible to everyone. After Paris, London, Berlin, Monaco, New York City, Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Expometro has launched its ninth edition in Barcelona, at one of the most iconic and busiest metro stations in the city.

The exhibition will showcase 36 collective artworks composed of 1327 individual artworks on both sides of the main corridor connecting L3 to L4. With six panoramic billboards on each side, Expometro will turn this never-ending tunnel into a 180-meter art gallery, offering an immersive artistic experience to thousands of daily commuters.

To learn more about Michelle Levy and her work, visit her website www.michellelevy.co.il