Escape of the Week: Tel Aviv’s street art in photos

Street art in Tel Aviv is alive and well — something I learned recently on my tour with Mekomy and the start-up’s founder, Gilad Uziley.

What I learned on the tour is that the street art scene in Tel Aviv, while it flourishes in the warehouse neighborhood of Florentin, extends well beyond this mostly rundown, hipster area and can actually be seen all over town. It is just a matter of where you look.

Florentin

Considered hipster/bohemian, Florentin is the place to immerse yourself in the street art culture in Tel Aviv.

Located in the southern part of the city, the area is a hodge-podge of industrial and residential with the in-the-know crowd frequenting the area for its nightlife scene. Regentrification in the 90s saw a flux of the younger crowd moving in, and today there’s a span of people who call this area home.

It’s a mix of rich and not-rich. A meshing of ideas … all under one neighborhood.

For me, I’m completely taken by the art flanking the walls, the dumpsters, the doors and beyond.

Florentin’s street art tells a story.

It explains the the issues with the city, personal problems, creative solutions, cries for love, and more.

It merges local artists with visiting artists to create collaborative works of art.

It uses mediums aside from just paint, like string.

There is Dede, whose work can be identified by Band-Aids.

Eggplant Kid who paints (you guessed it) eggplants.

Adi Sened who creates these little box people.

Dioz, with his abstract take on life.

And so, so many more.

Tel Aviv Bus Station

And then, there is Tel Aviv’s Bus Station.

Filled with vendors and quite run-down on most floors, the top floor is literally a work of art now, thanks to Mati Ale and his vision for bringing street art to the forefront of the locals and visitors. This floor treats passengers to a who’s who of street artists from Tel Aviv and beyond.

After walking through Florentin and then hitting the bus station, I love being able to recognize some of the artists whose work I have already seen in the gritty real world.

Around town

And, then my eyes are open.

As I walk around town, I can’t help but notice the street art everywhere I turn. The Band-Aids, the Hebrew prose, the little box people.

Am I in love with the street art scene in Tel Aviv? Yes, I think so.

For more information on taking your own street art tour, be sure to check out Mekomy’s Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: My street art tour was courtesy of Mekomy, however all opinions are my own. If you have questions regarding this, please read my disclosure policy.