By Libby Herz – COLlive
If you’re a young Jewish artist looking to make your mark, there’s an exciting new opportunity at Chabad Heights in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Recognizing a lack of representation for emerging Jewish talent in the art world, Rabbi Ari Kirschenbaum founded a professional gallery within his Chabad House.
“Many young Jewish artists have incredible talent but face challenges in marketing themselves or gaining visibility,” Kirschenbaum says. To address this, he transformed an entire floor of his center into a beautiful gallery space, providing artists with a free platform to display their work to the public.
The gallery’s mission is to provide a platform for these artists to gain exposure, help market their work, and ultimately sell pieces of art. “Our goal is to bring their art into focus, by giving them the chance to showcase their work in a professional setting,” Kirschenbaum explains. With monthly rotating exhibitions featuring 3-5 new artists, the gallery is rapidly becoming a vibrant local destination, drawing visitors eager to explore contemporary Jewish art.
Srulick Ybgi, the gallery’s curator, emphasizes its accessible and supportive approach: “One of the key points we emphasize is that we don’t charge artists to display their work. Instead, a small portion of sales helps support our community projects and the gallery’s upkeep,” Ybgi explains. While rooted in the local community, the gallery welcomes all Jewish artists: “We started with artists from our community, but our vision extends far beyond it. Our goal is to support emerging Jewish artists who may not have access to traditional galleries but possess extraordinary talent. Our aim is to provide them with a meaningful platform to either launch or enhance their careers.”
Ybgi also shares the inspiring story of an artist who discovered his passion later in life. “A member of our shul started painting during COVID without any prior experience. He simply picked up a brush one day, and now his work is displayed in galleries where it’s being sold and traded,” Ybgi recounts. Stories like this fueled the gallery’s vision: to create an accessible space for artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to shine.
The gallery’s inaugural exhibition is set for this Motzei Shabbos, Saturday, November 30th, at 8:00 PM, it’s free and open to the public. The next artist slated for exhibition is the renowned Ben-Zion.
For young artists eager to showcase their work, Maor Art Gallery offers an opportunity to step into the spotlight. For more information and availability, please email [email protected].
Address
664 Sterling Place,
Brooklyn, NY, 11216
By appointment only
Instagram @maorartgallery
Website maorartgallery.com
hatzlacha
Game changer for Jewish artists, rabbi ari on the cutting edge as always!
I was there and it’s a beautiful gallery with amazing artists! Ty Rabbi Ari keep up your good work!