Galeria Jan

Not a bad gallery per say but the owner wasn’t that friendly. She just ignored my wife and I now they are closed. The art was alright and I guess that is what matters most.

Hidden away in the labyrinth of clothing stores and restaurants on the second floor of a stairway with an ocean view– above Azul Steakhouse — sits Galeria Jan. The owner and proprietor is a knowledgeable, friendly woman who readily answers questions about all of the pieces as well as the artists who created them.
Even more interesting, this small gallery is the recent home to the famous Sarajevo Haggadah, subject of the book «The People of the Book.» In case you’re wondering, a haggadah is a book used during a Passover seder, and this one was purportedly created in Spain in the 1300s. Through a series of lucky accidents and personal sacrifices, it survived various owners, attempts to destroy is, and WWII (!!) and traveled around the world. This work of art was purportedly created as a wedding gift for a Spanish family, and its luminous illustrations, lavished with gold inlay, along with its story of survival, make this haggadah unlike any others.
Note that the original, which is considered invaluable, is at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo — few copies exist, and you can purchase one here, at this La Jolla art gallery. The owner claims that her family was in fact part of the history of the haggadah, and that her story actually inspired the author of «The People of the Book.» Is it true? Who knows. I do know, however, that the artwork in this gallery is worth a look, and that asking interesting questions will result in interesting answers.

This gem of a gallery harbors a genuine collection of original pieces. I particularly like the works of two eastern-​European artists who mix orthodox iconography and portraiture into their work, yielding very powerful pieces. The rendered mysticism and oil on wood/​glass media usage are truly reminiscent of a medieval era, yet the idiosyncratic approach imparts the work with modernity.