Civic mural / 2021
Art of Independence
A 56-metre concrete wall built for art, welcoming visitors to Be’er Sheva’s Old City opposite the Negev Museum of Art.
- Location
- Be’er Sheva Old City
- Year
- 2021
- Commissioned by
- Municipality of Be’er Sheva
- Format
- 56-metre mural on a purpose-built concrete wall
A wall built for art. A welcome to the Old City.
Art of Independence began with an exceptional gesture: the Municipality of Be’er Sheva built a 56-metre concrete wall specifically for Avi Tal / SPINE B7 to paint. Set along the boundary of a military base in the heart of the Old City, the wall gave an entire stretch of street to a single artistic vision. For Avi, being entrusted with a surface created on this scale was a significant honour, and a tangible expression of the city’s commitment to public art.
Across the street stands the Negev Museum of Art, where Avi also has a permanent exhibition. This street is a gathering point for visiting groups, municipal delegations and community organisations setting out on cultural, art and culinary tours of the Old City. Their visits often begin here: the mural offers a welcome and draws people along the street toward the museum entrance.
That role shaped the choice of familiar artists and their visual worlds. Portraits and reinterpretations of their work unfold along the wall, inviting recognition, curiosity and conversation before visitors reach the museum. Together, they create an introduction to art in the everyday space of the city.
Created by Avi Tal / SPINE B7, with painting assistance from Nathan Atbaiv (@natan.sabress).
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