Spotlight On Aviram Art Gallery

Art Business News, May, 2001 by Julie Keller

FAIR LAWN, N.J.--As a new resident of Fair Lawn, N.J., Isaac Aviram and his family are a long way from home. In September, Aviram expanded his Tel Aviv, Israel-based business, Aviram Art Gallery Ltd., to the United States with A&E Fine Art in an effort to meet the growing demand for his artists' work in America.

"I now give better services to my customers here, and I am able to travel throughout the States more easily," he explained.

Aviram started the Aviram Art Gallery nearly 15 years ago as a student in Israel. He began selling art while in school, and after graduating and spending a year in the U.S. representing Israeli artists, he opened his first gallery on Gordan Street, a bustling art mecca in Tel Aviv. Once there, he found success as an art dealer and retailer and continually grew his roster of artists. This success prompted the opening of a second gallery in Tel Aviv in the concert hall where the Philharmonic Orchestra of Israel plays.

Throughout his years in Tel Aviv, Aviram also launched several Israeli artists in America through advertising programs and consistent attendance at trade shows like Artexpo New York. The popularity of his artists and the company's reputation for quality are the reasons behind the opening of A&E Fine Art, which Aviram runs and caters to clients in the U.S. and the Far East. The two galleries in Israel, which also serve clients in Europe, are run by manager Alon Ben-Ezra.

"Over the last eight years, I've started to travel more and more to the States, going to Artexpo and other fairs and events, and promoting my business," said Aviram. "We have been very well received and have started working with more businesses, galleries, auctioneers and art dealers. I decided I wanted to give other services and expand to the U.S. because I saw the company growing."

The galleries specialize in representing Israeli culture through contemporary and traditional art by Israeli artists and artists who have emigrated to Israel from Russia.

Today, Aviram represents six artists--painters Michael Rozenvain, Michael Eisemann, Miriam Dauberk, Batia Magal and Moshe Leider and sculptress Cila Leviush--exclusively. The company also boasts a strong stable of Israeli artists, including Marcus Botbol, Gutman, Streichman, Kadishman, Zaritzky, Stimatzky, Kachan, Granot, Katz, Karni, Ben Avram and many others. The galleries feature original oils, watercolors, limited-edition serigraphs, lithographs and sculpture.

Up next are a series of limited-edition serigraphs from Rozenvain. The company also recently signed Russian artist Michael Malinkin and plans to begin publishing his work in the upcoming year. Also, the company will be releasing four new sculptures, each in an edition of nine, from Leviush.

The company also plans to participate in more U.S.-based trade shows, including DECOR expo--Atlanta in September, Artexpo California in November and a trade show in Japan. Also on tap are one-man shows featuring his exclusive artists, including one for Rozenvain in Sarasota, Fla., at the end of the year.

FACTS & FIGURES

* The Aviram Art Gallery was founded by entrepreneur Isaac Aviram in Tel Aviv, Israel, more than 10 years ago.

* In September, Aviram opened A&E Fine Art, the U.S. branch of the company that serves America and the Far East.

* Aviram exclusively represents six artists and carries the work of 30 to 40 other Israeli artists.