The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art

05/30/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday, May 28, for the opening reception of Totally Tumarkin at The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.

This special exhibition features a series of prints by renowned Israeli artist Igael Tumarkin, recently donated to the museum by Sam and Rene Sax of Chicago. We are honored to share these works with the public for the very first time.

To complement the exhibition, we paired Tumarkin’s prints with sculptures by fellow Israeli artist Aharon Bezalel. While Tumarkin became known for his bold, experimental approach and powerful public monuments, Bezalel’s work drew upon Jewish tradition, spirituality, and the cultural heritage of Jerusalem. The pairing highlights two important voices in Israeli art and creates a unique conversation between printmaking and sculpture, innovation and tradition.

Born in Dresden, Germany, in 1933, Tumarkin immigrated to what is now Israel as a young child with his family. Over the course of his career, he became one of Israel’s most influential and provocative artists, known for challenging conventions and helping shape the direction of modern Israeli art. His works often combined found objects, bold expressionist forms, and powerful commentary on history, memory, and identity.

Among his most recognized works are the Holocaust and Revival Memorial in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, and memorial sculptures honoring fallen soldiers in the Negev. Beyond sculpture, Tumarkin was also a stage designer, art theoretician, and a major force in Israel’s postwar art scene.

Aharon Bezalel, born in Afghanistan and raised in Jerusalem, developed a distinctive artistic voice rooted in Jewish history, biblical themes, and the spiritual traditions of the Middle East. Though closely connected to many leading Israeli artists of his era, including Tumarkin, he remained committed to his own unique artistic vision and became an important figure in Israel’s cultural landscape.

If you missed the opening reception, we invite you to visit the museum and experience the exhibition.

05/29/2026

🎨 Fried Fridays

This week’s Fried Friday feature highlights a fascinating watercolor and pencil study by Theodore Fried. The composition unfolds like a visual narrative, combining groups of figures gathered in conversation with equestrian scenes and loosely rendered sketches. Fried’s expressive brushwork and layered approach reveal the artist’s creative process, allowing viewers to see ideas develop across the page through color, movement, and gesture.

Accession Number: 2026.4.36

05/28/2026

The Sherwin Miller Museum of
Jewish Art is proud to share that we are participating in
the 2026 Blue Star Museums initiative! 🇺🇸⭐

From May 17 through September 7, active-duty military
personnel and their families receive free admission
through the national Blue Star Museums summer
program. The Sherwin Miller Museum is also proud to
support military families through year-round free
admission.

As we celebrate 60 years of preserving and sharing
Jewish history, heritage, art, and culture in Oklahoma,
we are honored to welcome military families to explore
our collections, the Sanditen/Kaiser Holocaust Center,
and upcoming exhibitions including Totally Tumarkin,
opening May 28, 2026.

Museum hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m.–5
p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.

Plan your visit:
www.jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Preserving and promoting Jewish heritage, culture, history and community through art and education

05/28/2026

Sneak peek 👀✨

We’re getting ready for tonight’s opening reception of Totally Tumarkin at The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. Here’s a behind-the-scenes preview before guests arrive this evening.

This special exhibition features signed prints by acclaimed Israeli artist Igael Tumarkin, whose bold visual language and experimental mixed-media work helped shape modern Israeli art.

Join us tonight at 6 PM as we celebrate the opening of this exciting new exhibition.

Admission:
Adults $8 | Seniors $7 | Students $6

05/28/2026

Yesterday, we were honored to welcome the priest and congregants of St. Monica Catholic Church to The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art for a special tour of the museum and the Sanditen/Kaiser Holocaust Center. ✨

Thank you for spending the day with us and engaging in meaningful conversations about history, remembrance, art, and cultural understanding. We are always grateful for opportunities to bring communities together through education and dialogue.

Interested in scheduling a group tour? We would love to welcome you to the museum.

05/26/2026

Save the date for our opening reception of our special new exhibition--Totally Tumarkiin- -at The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art at 6 pm.

Adults enter for $8.00, seniors for $7, and students for $6.

“Totally Tumarkin” will feature signed prints by acclaimed Israeli artist Igael Tumarkin on display for the first time at the museum. Known for his bold visual language and experimental mixed-media work, Tumarkin remains one of the most influential figures in modern Israeli art. We look forward to sharing this exciting exhibition with our community.

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day from The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. 🇺🇸

Today, Monday, May 25, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

The museum is closed today in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen Tuesday, May 26 from 10 AM–5 PM.

05/24/2026

We are open today from 12-5.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

Happy Shavuot from SMMJA! In honor of the holiday, The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art is open till 11 AM and closed the rest of the afternoon (12-5), today May 22 st. This Kiddish cup was donated to us by M. Kaufman, in the first decade of our collection- 1968. Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת in Hebrew, also pronounced Shavuos) is a two-day Jewish holiday (May 21-23, 2026) that commemorates the date when G‑d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. Preceded by 49 days of counting in eager anticipation, Shavuot is celebrated through desisting from work, candle-lit dinners, staying up all night to study Torah, listening to the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue, enjoying dairy foods and other festivities.

SMMJA.1968.75

05/22/2026

This week, we are sharing our post a little early. This piece features a centaur couple in love ♥

It is on paper and drawn with charcoal and pastel.