Finding a beautiful Jewish painting is one thing.
Finding an artist who can create a painting specifically for your family, synagogue, memory, story or vision is something very different.
Perhaps you want Jerusalem painted from a particular viewpoint. Maybe you are looking for a portrait of a rabbi or Jewish leader. You may want to recreate a family memory from an Eastern European shtetl, commission a Torah-themed painting for a synagogue, or create an original work to commemorate parents or grandparents.
In these situations, a custom Jewish art commission allows the story to become part of the artwork.
But where do you find Jewish artists who accept commissions – and how do you choose the right one?
What Is a Custom Jewish Art Commission?
A commissioned painting is an artwork created specifically at the request of a collector.
Instead of selecting an already completed painting, you communicate directly with the artist or studio about the artwork you would like to create.
The commission might involve:
- a particular Jewish subject;
- a specific location in Jerusalem or Israel;
- a family or historical photograph;
- a rabbi or Jewish leader;
- Torah or synagogue imagery;
- a memory from family history;
- a certain composition or atmosphere;
- a particular size for a home or institution;
- a traditional or contemporary artistic style.
The result is not simply a piece of wall décor.
A successful commission can become something closely connected with a family’s identity, history or beliefs.
Where Can You Find Jewish Artists for Custom Commissions?
There are several good places to begin searching.
1. Contact Jewish Artists Directly Through Their Websites
This is often the best option.
An artist’s own website allows you to examine a substantial body of work before making contact.
Look at more than one painting.
Ask yourself:
Does this artist already understand the subjects I want painted?
If you want a custom Jerusalem painting, look for someone who has painted Jerusalem repeatedly.
If you want a Torah scene, study the artist’s existing Torah paintings.
If you are commissioning a portrait of a rabbi, look at portraits the artist has already created.
The closer the artist’s existing work is to your vision, the easier it becomes to communicate what you want.
Working directly with the artist or studio also makes it easier to discuss the commission rather than relying on a marketplace interface.
Israeli artist Alex Levin, for example, accepts inquiries about customized artwork directly through ArtLevin.com.
Contact Alex Levin About a Custom Painting
2. Search Judaica Galleries and Jewish Art Galleries
Jewish and Judaica galleries can be another useful place to search.
Some galleries represent artists who specialize in:
- Jewish life;
- Jerusalem;
- Israel;
- biblical subjects;
- Chassidic life;
- Torah imagery;
- contemporary Judaica.
Even if a painting displayed in a gallery has already sold, the artist may accept a commission inspired by a related subject.
Ask the gallery specifically:
Does this artist accept original commissions?
Do not assume that every artist does.
3. Look on Artist Marketplaces
Online marketplaces such as Etsy and broader art platforms make it possible to discover artists from many countries.
Try searches such as:
custom Jewish painting
Jewish artist commission
custom Judaica art
Jerusalem painting commission
custom Torah painting
Jewish portrait commission
Marketplaces are particularly useful for discovering artists.
Before commissioning an important painting, however, examine the artist’s full portfolio and previous work carefully.
A commission requires more than finding someone who can paint.
The artist also needs to understand the subject you are asking them to interpret.
4. Ask Synagogues and Jewish Community Organizations
Synagogues, Chabad Houses, Jewish schools and community organizations frequently know artists whose work appears in local homes and institutions.
This can be especially useful if you are commissioning artwork for:
- a synagogue;
- Jewish school;
- Chabad House;
- community center;
- donor memorial;
- institutional lobby;
- Torah-study area.
A recommendation from a Jewish institution may also lead you to an artist experienced with larger installations or Jewish subjects.
5. Search Social Media by Subject – Not Just by “Jewish Artist”
Instagram, Facebook and other visual platforms can be useful artist-discovery tools.
Instead of searching only for Jewish artist, search for the exact subject you want.
For example:
Jerusalem artist
Kotel painting
Torah artist
contemporary Jewish artist
Judaica painter
Lubavitcher Rebbe painting
This usually produces more useful results because you can immediately compare how different artists interpret your subject.
Once you find someone whose work appeals to you, look for an official website and portfolio before discussing a commission.
Why Experience With Jewish Subjects Matters
Technically, many talented artists can paint a building, portrait or landscape.
A meaningful Jewish commission can require something more.
Jewish subjects contain details that may carry religious, historical and emotional significance.
Consider a painting involving a Torah scroll.
The way the Torah is held, dressed or placed matters.
A painting of traditional Jewish life may involve specific clothing, architecture, ritual objects or customs.
A painting of Jerusalem requires familiarity with a city whose stones, gates and landmarks are immediately recognizable.
A historical Jewish scene may require research to make clothing, surroundings and atmosphere believable.
This is why examining an artist’s existing Jewish artwork is so important.
You are not only looking for technical ability.
You are looking for an artist who can understand the story behind the image.
Jewish Art Commissions by Alex Levin
Israeli artist Alex Levin has spent decades painting Jerusalem, Jewish traditions and Jewish history.
His body of work includes realistic paintings as well as contemporary compositions using abstraction, fragmented forms and intense color.
Collectors interested in a commission can begin by exploring his existing paintings and identifying the artistic direction closest to their idea.
Explore Jewish Paintings by Alex Levin
Several subjects are particularly well suited to custom commissions.
Custom Jerusalem Paintings
Jerusalem is one of the most personal subjects in Jewish art.
Two people may both request a painting of Jerusalem but imagine completely different works.
One may want the Western Wall at sunrise.
Another may remember walking through an Old City street.
Someone else may want Jerusalem viewed from the Mount of Olives.
A family may have a particular photograph from a trip to Israel that carries special meaning.
A synagogue may need a large Jerusalem composition designed for a particular wall.
Alex Levin’s Jerusalem collection demonstrates how dramatically one city can be interpreted through different light, perspectives and styles.
His contemporary Jerusalem at Night, for example, demonstrates how recognizable Jerusalem imagery can be interpreted using a much more modern visual language.
When discussing a Jerusalem commission, it helps to identify:
- the location;
- time of day;
- season;
- traditional or contemporary style;
- preferred colors;
- whether people should appear;
- horizontal or vertical composition;
- approximate finished size.
The more clearly the idea is described, the easier it is for an artist to understand the atmosphere you want.
Custom Torah Paintings
The Torah is another powerful subject for commissioned Jewish art.
A Torah painting can express many different ideas:
faith
learning
L’Dor V’Dor – continuity between generations
Simchat Torah
prayer
Jewish education
love of Torah
A commission might show a grandfather studying with his grandchildren, a person embracing the Torah, a rabbi teaching students, or an entirely contemporary interpretation in which the Torah forms the spiritual center of the composition.
Alex Levin’s Embracing the Torah demonstrates how a traditional Jewish subject can be expressed through a contemporary artistic approach.
Explore Torah Paintings by Alex Levin
Custom Paintings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Portrait commissions can have particular importance when the subject is a Jewish leader.
Alex Levin has created numerous paintings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ranging from traditional portraiture to contemporary interpretations.
View Portrait of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Explore Lubavitcher Rebbe Paintings
A custom Rebbe painting might emphasize a particular expression, moment, setting or artistic style.
Someone commissioning this type of work should provide the artist with clear reference material and explain what emotional quality they hope the finished painting will communicate.
Custom Paintings Based on Jewish Family History
Some of the most personal commissions begin not with another painting but with a story.
Perhaps your grandparents came from a shtetl in Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania or Belarus.
Perhaps the family has one surviving photograph.
Perhaps you know the name of the town but have no photographs at all.
An artist experienced in Jewish historical subjects may be able to use available reference material to create a visual interpretation of that world.
Alex Levin’s existing shtetl paintings provide examples of the atmosphere such paintings can capture – families, children, Torah study, musicians, tradespeople and everyday community life.
Explore Jewish Shtetl Paintings
The painting Jewish Life in Shtetl is one example of Levin’s approach to preserving traditional Jewish life through art.
A custom work based on family history can become particularly meaningful because it gives visual form to a story that may otherwise exist only in memory.
Custom Shabbat and Jewish Family Paintings
Not every commission needs to depict a famous place or historical figure.
Sometimes the most meaningful subject is ordinary Jewish family life.
Shabbat offers especially rich possibilities:
- lighting Shabbat candles;
- Kiddush;
- a family at the table;
- walking to synagogue;
- a Jerusalem Friday evening;
- grandparents and grandchildren celebrating together.
Alex Levin’s Shabbat Shalom demonstrates how familiar Jewish rituals can become intimate, emotional subjects for a painting.
A custom version could be inspired by a particular family memory or atmosphere rather than simply reproducing an existing composition.
Commissions for Synagogues and Jewish Institutions
Custom Jewish artwork can also be created for much larger spaces.
Synagogues, Chabad Houses, Jewish schools and community centers may need artwork designed around:
- a particular wall size;
- the institution’s architectural style;
- Jerusalem;
- Torah study;
- Jewish continuity;
- a donor or memorial;
- the Lubavitcher Rebbe;
- Jewish history;
- a community’s story.
For an institutional commission, dimensions are particularly important.
A painting that works beautifully over a residential sofa can look much too small on a large synagogue wall.
Provide the artist with wall measurements and, ideally, photographs showing the surrounding space.
Memorial Jewish Art Commissions
A commissioned painting can also honor someone who has passed away.
It does not necessarily have to be a conventional portrait.
A memorial painting might incorporate:
- Jerusalem;
- a person’s favorite Jewish place;
- a Torah;
- their hometown;
- an important family memory;
- symbolic objects associated with their life;
- a favorite Jewish tradition.
This approach can create something more personal than simply reproducing a photograph.
The artwork can tell part of that person’s story.
Jewish Wedding, Anniversary and Family Commissions
A custom painting can also mark a beginning rather than a memory.
Jewish weddings, major anniversaries and family milestones can inspire commissions involving Jerusalem, Jewish tradition or places important to the couple.
A family may commission a painting as a gift for parents celebrating a significant anniversary.
Children may commission artwork representing their parents’ origins.
A congregation may commission artwork honoring a rabbi’s years of service.
Because the artwork is created around a particular story, the gift cannot simply be duplicated by purchasing another object from a store.
What Should You Send an Artist When Requesting a Commission?
You do not need to write an elaborate artistic brief.
Start with the essential information.
Explain the Subject
Describe what you want the painting to depict.
Be specific enough that the artist understands the idea.
Provide Reference Images
If particular people, buildings or historical details matter, send clear photographs or other reference material.
Give the Approximate Size
Tell the artist where you expect to display the painting and approximately how large it should be.
Choose the General Style
Show examples from the artist’s existing portfolio.
Instead of trying to describe an artistic technique, you can simply say:
“I like the style of this painting.”
That can communicate a great deal.
Explain What Matters Most
Tell the artist which details are essential and which can be interpreted creatively.
This is especially important with family and historical commissions.
Mention Any Deadline
If the painting is intended for a wedding, anniversary, synagogue dedication or another fixed event, communicate that from the beginning.
The artist can then tell you whether the project is realistic within the available time.
Questions to Ask Before Commissioning Jewish Art
Before proceeding with any artist, clarify the important details.
Ask:
- Does the artist accept this type of commission?
- What size and medium will be used?
- What information or reference photographs are required?
- What is included in the quoted price?
- Is framing included or separate?
- What is the expected completion schedule?
- How will the painting be shipped?
- What opportunities are available to discuss the composition before completion?
- What happens if the requested historical or visual details cannot be reproduced accurately?
A professional conversation at the beginning prevents misunderstandings later.
Should You Ask an Artist to Copy Another Artist’s Painting?
Generally, no.
Reference images are extremely useful for explaining a mood, composition, location or idea.
But commissioning an artist should be an opportunity to create something original.
If you admire an existing Alex Levin painting but want a different viewpoint, family element, size, atmosphere or interpretation, discuss those ideas rather than requesting an exact copy of another artist’s copyrighted work.
The strongest commissions combine your story with the artist’s own visual language.
Traditional or Contemporary Custom Jewish Art?
One of the first decisions is whether you want the finished painting to feel traditional or contemporary.
Traditional realism may work particularly well for:
- historical scenes;
- shtetl life;
- family memories;
- Jerusalem streets;
- portraits.
Contemporary Jewish art can work beautifully for:
- modern interiors;
- Torah symbolism;
- Jerusalem;
- Jewish identity;
- institutional spaces;
- abstract spiritual concepts.
Alex Levin works in both approaches.
His traditional paintings preserve recognizable places and stories, while works such as Embracing the Torah and Jerusalem at Night demonstrate a much more contemporary language.
That gives collectors the ability to begin with a Jewish subject and then decide how traditionally or modernly they want it expressed.
Why Commission Jewish Art Directly From the Artist?
Buying an existing painting begins with the artwork.
Commissioning begins with your idea.
That distinction is what makes the process special.
The finished painting might connect to a family’s past, a Jerusalem memory, a synagogue, a teacher, a rabbi, a Jewish tradition or an experience that cannot be found in an existing catalog.
And when you work directly with an artist who already paints these subjects, you are not beginning from zero.
You can look through the artist’s work and say:
I love this light.
I prefer this Jerusalem style.
I like the emotion in this Torah painting.
I want something similar in feeling, but telling our story.
That is often the best starting point for a successful commission.
Commission a Jewish Painting by Alex Levin
Alex Levin’s work encompasses Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Torah, Shabbat, Jewish life, shtetl scenes, contemporary Judaica and portraits of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Collectors interested in a personalized work can browse his existing portfolio to determine the subject and artistic direction they prefer, then contact the studio to discuss availability, pricing and the details of the proposed commission.
When contacting the studio, include:
- your idea;
- any reference photographs;
- preferred painting size;
- examples of Alex Levin paintings whose style you like;
- where the finished painting will be displayed;
- any important deadline.
That provides a useful starting point for determining whether the commission can be created.
Contact Alex Levin About a Custom Jewish Painting
Explore Jewish Paintings by Alex Levin
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Jewish Art Commissions
Where can I find Jewish artists who accept commissions?
Start with artists’ official websites, Jewish and Judaica galleries, art marketplaces, social media portfolios, synagogues and Jewish community organizations. An artist’s own website is particularly useful because you can examine a larger portfolio before making contact.
Does Alex Levin accept custom painting requests?
ArtLevin.com provides customization options and invites collectors to contact the studio regarding Alex Levin’s work, pricing and availability. Contact the studio with the details of your proposed painting to determine whether the commission can be accepted.
Can I commission a custom Jerusalem painting?
Yes, Jerusalem is particularly suitable for commissioned artwork because a collector can specify a location, perspective, time of day, style and atmosphere.
Can an artist create a Jewish painting from an old family photograph?
Depending on the quality of the reference material and the artist’s approach, old photographs can be useful in developing a custom artwork. Tell the artist which details need to remain historically or personally accurate.
Can I commission a painting of a rabbi or Jewish leader?
Portrait commissions can depict rabbis, teachers and other Jewish figures. Good reference photographs and a clear explanation of the desired setting and style are particularly important for portrait work.
Can I commission artwork for a synagogue or Chabad House?
Yes. Custom artwork can be particularly useful for large institutional spaces because the composition and dimensions can be planned around the location where the painting will hang.
What information should I provide when requesting a custom Jewish painting?
Provide a description of the subject, reference photographs if available, approximate size, preferred style, important details and any deadline.
How much does a custom Jewish painting cost?
Commission prices vary according to the artist, painting size, medium, complexity and subject. Contact the artist or studio for a quote based on the specific project.
How long does a commissioned painting take?
Completion times vary based on the size and complexity of the work and the artist’s schedule. If the painting is intended for a wedding, anniversary, dedication or other fixed date, mention the deadline at the beginning of the conversation.
Where can I request a custom painting from Alex Levin?
Commission inquiries can be submitted directly through the Art Levin contact page.
