Ariel Schlesinger

Born 1980, Jerusalem, Israel. Lives and works in Berlin, Germany, and New York, USA.

Ariel Schlesinger’s practice evolves from poetic gestures into a post-minimal conceptual approach, de-functionalizing everyday objects through subtle yet deliberate interventions. Employing a destructive-constructive strategy, he transforms familiar objects, opening new avenues for perception and inviting viewers to discover the unexpected within the ordinary. Through precise manipulations, Schlesinger breathes new material existence into what is already vanishing, creating a renewed presence that oscillates between disappearance and revelation. Many of his works incorporate gas and flames, exploring risk while converting hazardous elements into controlled, visually striking experiences.

Schlesinger has held numerous solo exhibitions, including at LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur (Münster), Compton Verney (Warwickshire, UK), Kunsthaus Baselland (Muttenz, Basel), Kunstverein Braunschweig (Göttingen), and CCA – Center for Contemporary Art (Tel Aviv). His work has also been included in group exhibitions at institutions such as the Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Centre for Contemporary Art (Warsaw), Kunsthaus Graz, Museum Frieder Burda (Baden-Baden), Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, Barcelona Contemporary Art Center, Guangdong Times Museum (Guangzhou), and Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

Throughout his career, Schlesinger has received several awards, including from the AIT (Tokyo) and Künstlerhäuser Worpswede. His works are held in prominent public and private collections, including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids), Haaretz Collection (Tel Aviv), LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur (Münster), and Jüdisches Museum Frankfurt, among others.