Avner Ben-Gal’s atmospheric paintings and drawings depict dark themes, such as drug use and the conflict in the Middle East. His series “Smackville” (2010), rendered with acrylic, pencil, and felt pen on paper, captures the perils of addiction, while surreal paintings such as Stars and Truck Driving (2010) and Language Inventor (2006) evoke ominous desolation. Ben-Gal’s hazily-delineated, ambiguous figures appear against smoky backgrounds, evoking dereliction and anxiety. Though he creates scenes from his imagination, Ben-Gal’s works are often viewed as allegories of ongoing Middle East conflict, heightening their emotional impact.