"Fresh Paint art fair began when we identified a lack of commercial platforms for galleries and artists, on the one hand, and a curious audience on the other," says Yifat Gurion, initiator and co-founder of Fresh Paint, the art fair held in Tel Aviv annually. "Our goal has always been to function as a catalyst in the art market, to promote the flow of resources inward, to lure the public into this world, to get to know art, and more importantly—to develop feelings and sentiments for it. To make the audience realize that art is something that can be mundane; not only something that you dress up for and go out to see once a year, but a matter of routine. Something they would want to take back home and make a part of their lives..

Matan Kanety purchased his first work of art unintentionally. "It was seven years ago, at Fresh Paint art fair. I had never even thought about it before, but that time I went with a friend who had already purchased several art works in the past. I bought works by Jennifer Abessira and Dorian Gottlieb, and it led to the acquaintance with the artists, and a friendship that has evolved over the years..

Located in Tel Aviv's well-appointed/befittingly named Museum Tower Shibolet &Co. Is a law firm that has evolved into a semi-art gallery. One of the partners and the man behind the firm's unique art collection—which spans high-profile contemporary Israeli artists, such as Michal Na'aman, Ido Bar-El, Yair Garbuz, Shai Azoulay, and Khen Shish—is Adv. Ofer Shapira, "an avid art aficionado and a collector in his own right," as one of the firm's employees attests."Every now and then, when we meet with clients and they are curious about an artwork, he is the one who can tell them all about it..

Benno Kalev is far from your idea of a typical art collector. In fact, he is quite the opposite. He is very proud that he has been collecting art for the past fifty-six years, against all odds; his available financial resources are modest ("I've been an accountant my entire life, which doesn't make for a great pension"), and he doesn't find his place among fellow influential figures in the art world...

"I am interested in nature, space and intimacy, examining the ability of a surface to take part in the relationship between one and oneself.."

The garden opened in April includes 15 monumental iron sculptures. Unfortunately, very few Israeli artists have ever had such permanent displays. The fact that from now on it is possible to enjoy Dorchin's sculptures, to walk among them, to see them from a distance and to read their names, is an important and joyous fact in the local cultural scene..

"Following a trip of photographic inventory I took several months ago, I realized two things. First, that I have dedicated my life to art; and second that I possess materials which I have been collecting from a very young age.."

"I was brought up on classical figurative images, on post-war French art, on Italian sculpture. Figurative sculpture was not a derogatory term. These images are irrelevant to Israeli art; unsuitable; nonexistent. I realized I was heading into a dead end.."

"I feel close to Caravaggio's 'Doubting Thomas,' who digs into the wound as if he were doubting Christ's identity. I relate to the movement of the eye that needs touch in addition to sight, so as to reaffirm what you see, to feel what you see.."

"It appears as though I know what the finished painting will look like when I start working, but this is not the case. I have a general idea which I make sure not to develop too much, and I let it evolve as I work.."

"It's not a world outlook. You don't understand what the a-ideal or the a-personal is. You don't understand. I tell you I'm comprised of the same human cripplednesses as you are. But I call them cripplednesses.."

"Beauty is important. There is something sad about a painting which is not beautiful, I think. A work must, first of all, be beautiful. Beautiful works attest to a belief in life.."