Dalia Levin

Dalia Levin
Native name דליה לוין
Born (1946-09-18) September 18, 1946
Tel Aviv, Israel

Dalia Levin (born September 18, 1946) is the former director and chief curator of Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art (1993-2014). Levin was also chief curator of Petach Tikva Museum of Art (1988-1993).

Biography

Dalia Levin was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel. She graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Law School. She then studied Art history and Museology in Tel Aviv University. She mastered in painting with Israeli artist Eliahu Gat. In 1987 she started to work as curator in Petach Tikva Museum of Art, which was then a small peripheral museum, the house of local schools art exhibitions. Levin started to exhibit contemporary art shows, and it became part of "The Periphery Forum" of art institutions in Israel.

In 1993 Levin was nominated to the position of Director of The Herzliya Museum. Under her supervision, this became The Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, an internationally leading museum of its regime. While in the Museum she served in a number of major committees, such as: The 50th Venice Biennale international committee of judges of the Golden Lion award; the committees of judges of the Israel Prize in the Arts; the Wolf Prize committee of judges in the Arts.

Levin is the mother of two daughters and a son, and has 6 grandchildren.

Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art

When Levin started managing the museum, it was merely a part of the Yad La'banim memorial institution house in the city (just as was the museum which Levin managed previously). Levin wanted from the outset to exhibit contemporary art of significant artistic value, while then newly elected mayor, Yael German, wished to use the museum in order to support and promote local artists. Levin persuaded German that the quality of work must be the defining criterion, and not the artist place of residency. She wished to establish the museum as an experimental platform of quality contemporary art. Since then, the financial support by German and the City grew substantially. In addition, Yaacov Alkov, a Hertzlia resident, donated his entire private art collection, as well as money donation, to the museum.[1]

Expanding the museum budget enabled professional independence in management, and to do long term plans. Under Levin, the museum got its new name, the building was renovated and expanded, advanced video screens were purchased to show Video art exhibits. Levin sees this medium as one of the key components of future visual arts.

As a manager and chief curator, Levin focused on promoting young artists, some right out of arts school. She preferred them over purchasing already recognized works. Levin would call on graduation exhibitions in arts schools and faculties, getting first-hand impression from works which were unknown to the crows and even to professionals. A number of nowadays renowned artist, such as: Yehudit Sasportas, Guy Ben-Ner, Michal Helfman, Sigalit Landau, made their debut with the intensive support of Levin. In return, they have contributed many of their works to the museum for permanent exhibitions. Levin also put a great deal of international works on display, bringing the museum to a well recognized position around the world. In her curatorial agenda, Levin confronted various perspectives of conflicts and controversial issues.

As of 2014, the museum spans 3,000 sq. meters, a three-fold increase over the time when Levin started. It runs on a fixed 2.5M NIS budget.

During the 2000s decade, Levin initiated three Biennales in the museum, enabled by the support of mayor German. The 4th Herzliya Biennial did not take place, after German's term ended when she moved to serve in Cabinet of Israel.

At the end of 2013 Levin retired from management.[2] The last exhibition that she curated, Rising Star (2014), brought together the most distinguished graduates of Israel's art schools.

Rivka Saker, manager of Artis which promotes Israeli arts, and chairwoman of Sotheby's Israel branch, said: "Through her work in Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art, Dalia changed the arts arena in Israel. She introduced a variety of young artist to the greater crowds, and promoted them professionally and financially. Thanks to her, the Israeli public, as well as established art institutions abroad, are much more familiar with contemporary Israeli arts."

Notable Exhibitions

Current affiliations

Since 1994, Levin is a member of CIMAM, the International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern Art. Since 2011, Levin is a member of the board of Minshar, School of Art, Tel Aviv.

References

  1. ↑ The Alkov Collection page in the museum web site
  2. ↑ Galia Yahav (2 May 2014). "Star-spotting Curator Finds Talent for Her Last Israeli Art Show". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 October 2015.


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