I’m Sharon Toval, a contemporary art curator and researcher based in Tel Aviv, though my journey started in France. My background is a blend of diverse cultural experiences and international perspectives, which has profoundly shaped my approach to art. I earned my master’s degree in policy and theory of the arts from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, one of Israel’s most respected institutions. I also had the unique opportunity to study museology at the Israel Museum, where I was mentored by Yigal Zalmona, the Head Curator, who greatly influenced my curatorial vision.

Over the years, I’ve curated exhibitions both in Israel and abroad, including projects in Switzerland, Austria, USA, UK, and the Netherlands. One of my proudest milestones was curating the first Israeli art exhibition in the United Arab Emirates at the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, a project that opened a new chapter in Israeli-UAE cultural collaboration. I also founded The Lab, an experimental art space in Tel Aviv, where I work each year with a group of 10 artists, researching and pushing the boundaries of contemporary art in an environment of openness and innovation.

Currently, I am the Head Curator and Collection Manager for the Isrotel hotel chain, where I oversee their art collections and run two artist residency programs. My curatorial interests are deeply rooted in multiculturalism and bridging divides. In Longing Be-longing: On Post-Orientalist Influences in Contemporary Israeli Art, the exhibition I curated in the UAE, I explored the evolution of Eastern themes within Israeli art, a subject I find both complex and timely. I am active at the ODBK organization for the Democratization of Visual Arts, based in Berlin, consulting and lecturing for Equality and Inclusion for Art Minorities.  

My research and exhibitions frequently delve into the experiences of Jews from Arab lands, reflecting my personal interest in identity and belonging. In 2018-2019, I curated an exhibition on social shame and racism experienced by Mizrahi Jews in Israel, which sparked meaningful discussions on cultural heritage and social challenges.

In all my projects, I strive to deconstruct rigid perspectives within the art world, creating space for new narratives that resonate across cultural and geographic borders. I see art as a bridge, a way to foster dialogue, empathy, and understanding between communities, and I’m committed to making the art world a more inclusive, dynamic space for everyone.