Art By Jewish Artist Ben-Zion To Be on Show For First Time in Over 25 Years At Crown Heights Gallery
The newly established Maor Art Gallery proudly presents “Ben-Zion: Hineni – I Am Here,” the first comprehensive exhibition of Ben-Zion’s paintings and works on paper in more than twenty-five years. This landmark exhibition will showcase the artistic legacy of Ben-Zion Weinman (1897-1987), a founding member of ‘The Ten’, an influential group of New York-based expressionist painters that included Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb.
“Ben-Zion’s work represents a unique bridge between traditional Jewish themes and modern expressionist art,” says Rabbi Ari Kirschenbaum, founder and director of the Maor Art Gallery, which opened in Brooklyn in 2024. “This exhibition offers members of the public a rare opportunity to discover an important artist whose work has been largely unseen for more than two decades.”
Ben-Zion created works of art prolifically until his death in 1987 and his work is held in major museum and private collections worldwide. Yet despite all this, the February exhibition will mark the first significant appearance of his art in public view this century. Born in Ukraine to a cantor father, Ben-Zion’s early immersion in Jewish tradition and Hebrew poetry profoundly influenced his artistic vision, which features overt Jewish symbolism as well as expressionist abstract compositions.
“Ben-Zion’s work tells the story of his journey from Hebrew writer to visual artist during the rise of Nazism,” notes Maor Art Gallery curator, Srulick Ygbi. “Despite the dominance of Abstract Expressionism during his lifetime, Ben-Zion managed to maintain his distinctive artistic voice.”
The exhibition will focus on Ben-Zion’s paintings and works on paper exploring Jewish and Biblical themes. The exhibition showcases pieces spanning several decades, highlighting Ben-Zion’s various mediums and his ability to weave together his Jewish heritage with broader mythological and natural themes. A 20-minute documentary titled “Ben-Zion: In Search of Oneself” will also be screened as part of the exhibition’s official program.
The exhibition is held in partnership between the Maor Art Gallery and the Ben-Zion Estate.
Event Details:
- What: Ben-Zion: Hineni – I Am Here
- Where: Maor Art Gallery
- Address: 664 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11216
- Date: Saturday, February, 1st, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM
- More Info: www.maorartgallery.com | Instagram: @maorartgallery
About The Maor Art Gallery
Established in 2024, the Maor Gallery features Jewish and Jewish-themed art by Jewish artists. The gallery was opened as a way to illuminate the creative voices of emerging Jewish artists and creators and is dedicated to providing a free and supportive gallery space where creativity can be showcased, celebrated, and used to inspire others.
