In February 2020, the Israel Museum opened an exhibition entirely devoted to Bertha Urdang (1912−2001) and her New York gallery. This was the second exhibition about the charismatic gallerist to be held at the Museum, a rather rare occurrence. With her uncanny gift for discovering young artists, and moved by her fierce Zionism as much as by her passion for art, Urdang brought to bear her larger-than-life personality in her battle to promote Israel’s avant-garde talent and bring these young artists to international prominence.

 This catalogue presents four decades of diligent activity through a comprehensive essay by exhibition curator Ronit Sorek and evocative texts by artist Joshua Neustein, art historian John W. Coffey, Urdang’s daughter Miri Laufer, and Ori Hashmonay. It is richly illustrated with works by “Bertha’s artists” and documents the many groundbreaking exhibitions she organized.