There are quite a few galleries in Jerusalem, and some very fine painting and sculpture if your wallet will stretch to them, but there's also a lot of overpriced tat aimed quite shamelessly at foreign Jews sentimental for Israel. The recently purpose-built "arts and crafts lane" ( James Felt Lane ), off Hativat Yerushalayim Street, opposite the Old City walls just south of the Jaffa Gate, is already looking rather run-down and tacky, and you won't find any bargains there, but it is worth doing the rounds of the serious galleries elsewhere if you have an interest in modern art, especially with a Jewish theme. Art and Judaica, a free pamphlet found in the lobbies of upmarket hotels, advertises several good studios. Those listed here offer something a little different from the norm.
Archie Granot
22 Rivlin. Sun-Thurs 10.30am-7.30pm, Fri 10.30am-2pm.
Multilayered papercuts, somewhat different from the single-layered Chinese variety, with some refreshing new treatments of traditional Jewish themes, especially inscriptions, geometric designs, and even documents such as a ketuba (Jewish wedding certificate) and mezuzot.
Artists' House (Bet HaOmenim)
12 Shmuel HaNagid. Sun-Thurs 10am-1pm & 4-7pm, Fri 10am-1pm, Sat 11am-2pm.
The place for up-and-coming Jerusalem artists to exhibit their work, with studios used by artists working in a range of forms and materials. Always worth having a look for what's new on the local art scene.
Frank Meisler
King David Hotel annexe, 21 King David St. Sun-Thurs 9am-11pm, Fri 9am-3pm, Sat nightfall-midnight.
Some beautifully wrought gold- and silver-plated brass and pewter statuettes and sculptures, whimsical, highly distinctive and very Jewish, featuring dancing rabbis, shtetel musicians, biblical beasts, and extremely Freudian images of Sigmund Freud. Expensive but excellent.
Gallery Anadiel
20 Freres, Old City. Mon-Sat 10am-2pm & 5-8pm.
One of the only galleries selling Palestinian art, with a selection of paintings and a few sculptures by local artists.
Lucien Krieff Gallery
King David Hotel annexe, 21 King David St. Sun-Thurs 9.30am-11pm, Fri 9.30am-3pm, Sat nightfall-midnight.
A good place to check out some of Israel's best art talent. Paintings are the mainstay, and there are some very impressive ones, but you'll also find sculpture and Judaica. Other branches (closing earlier) are located at 11 Mea She'arim and in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City at 16 Tiferet Israel.