Each exhibit we present throughout the year represents Israeli and/or Jewish artists, spotlighting talent from within our Tidewater community, or from around the globe.

All exhibits are free and open to the public. Upcoming exhibits and meet-the-artist events are announced in our twice-monthly newsletter. Click here to sign up for that correspondence.

Gallery Hours
Monday – Thursday | 9 am – 8:00 pm
Friday | 9 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

James Johnson

James Johnson has been creating for over 80 years. Now 85, Johnson began his artistic career at four years old, when his older brother was enrolled in art school and taught him how to paint. Johnson moved to Hampton Roads in 1969 and began painting murals during the warmer months while working in interior design the rest of the year. Eventually, he caught the eye of Wall Illusions in Norfolk, where he became an artist advisor and worked on many projects, including the extensive art restoration at the Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth, which he completed in 1990.

Following that project, Johnson returned to self-employment, painting murals at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. He has since dedicated over fifty-four years to mural painting in Hampton Roads in restaurants, schools, theaters, hotels, and government buildings.

Johnson has been a Simon Family JCC member since 2016, and is thrilled to present his artwork in the Leon Family Gallery.

Effrat Levy

Leon Family Gallery Hall of Remembrance

The Hall of Remembrance will feature the names of over 1500 Israelis who have lost their lives on or since October 7 at the hands of terrorists interspersed with prints of art by various Israeli artists who have used their art as a way to take action, tell the stories of individuals, call for political action, and foster unity.

This exhibit is split into three sections:

The surrealistic Once Upon a Purchase, which explores the relationship between salesperson and customer;
Life, which highlights some of Johnson’s portraiture and realistic landscape paintings;
and Musion, which is the visual depiction of music as Johnson sees it when he listens to music with his eyes closed - a visual exploration of art and sound.

This is exhibit will be on display in the Leon Family Gallery through August.

TO INQUIRE ABOUT PURCHASING ANY OF THE PIECES IN THE EXHIBIT, PLEASE CONTACT HUNTER THOMAS AT HTHOMAS@UJFT.ORG OR 757.965.6137. 25% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM ART SALES WILL BENEFIT ARTS + IDEAS PROGRAMMING AT THE UNITED JEWISH FEDERATION OF TIDEWATER.

July 11, 2024: James Nelson Johnson reflects on his unique work and legacy on Coast Live

UPCOMING GALLERY EVENTS

Jaffe Family Fund
Carol and Joel Jason
Betsy and Ed Karotkin
Jodi and Jay Klebanoff
Teresa Knecht and Marc Lindgren
Anne and Edward Kramer
Celia Krichman Charitable Trust
Sierra and Steven Lautman
Edward Legum
Robert Lehman
Caren and Mrs. Stephen Leon
David Leon
Sandra Porter Leon and Miles Leon
Betty Ann and Scott Levin
Joan London
Robin and Matthew Mancoll
Laura and Jerry Miller
Marcia and Burton Moss
Stacie and Marc Moss
Andrew Nusbaum

Raul Palenzuela
Poole Brooke Plumlee PC
Mrs. Elinore Porter
Lisa and Howard Roesen
Sharon and Gene Ross
Sara Jo and Joel Rubin
Shikma and Danny Rubin
Deborah and Peter Segaloff
Laure and Richard Saunders
Beth Scharlop and Roger Schultz
Miriam Seeherman
Patricia and Herman Shelanski
Lynn Schoenbaum
Leslie and Lawrence Siegel
Edward Soltz
Lawrence Steingold
Renee and John Strelitz
Tidewater Jewish Foundation
Jody and Alan Wagner
Amy and Frank Zelenka