August Moon Muse: Bar Goren

August Moon Muse

BAR GOREN

A Conversation on Art, Curation, and Raising Urban Creatives

Bar lives just steps from the Jaffa Flea Market- through an orange and palm-tree filled courtyard, with her husband Lior, and their two kids, Ruby (4.5) and Roma (1.7). Bar works as a curator and art consultant, and Lior is a tattoo artist. Together, they share the brand Palms and Tigers- a small‑batch universe of prints, homeware and apparel. We visited their cool, cozy apartment on a quiet weekend morning, abound with fresh florals, and thoughtfully styled spaces- to chat about how they weave creativity into daily life.

What role does creativity play in your life?

Over time, my identity as a creative has become less about a single discipline and more about a holistic approach, one that values aesthetics, meaning, and dialogue between people, objects, time and ideas.

Through my work as a curator, I work alongside artists to translate ideas embedded in material into language- while creating a space where viewers connect with the artwork and relate to the artist’ intentions. Being the connector- the translator, between the two ends- artist and viewer- has helped me a lot in Palms and Tigers. These two practices naturally complement and enrich one another in an ongoing dialogue.

How have you curated your home to reflect your vision and also invite your kids into creativity?

The concept of “home” is something I think about often, as it holds deep personal meaning for me. To me, home is not just a physical space but a feeling of warmth, safety, love, and beauty. These emotions guide the way we shape our space. Our home is built from a combination of natural materials like wood and stone, alongside objects we’ve collected over the years. It’s not something we created at once, but something that has evolved over time, allowing each piece to carry its own meaning and story. The result is a warm, cozy, and layered home that feels personal and alive, while remaining open and inviting for our children to explore, create, and be inspired within their everyday life.

The kids are very much inside this story. Their creative corner is in the living room, literally in the heart of everything. Paper, paints, brushes- it’s all there and accessible. There are always fresh flowers somewhere, even if it’s just a small bunch- it brings earthiness to the space, and is a small detail that makes a big difference.

What does Tel Aviv bring into your work and your family rhythm?

The city is like a third collaborator. We live close to the Jaffa Flea Market, which is basically an endless mood-board. The mix is wild- Ottoman tiles, plastic toys, antique lamps, cheap trinkets, a perfect ceramic bowl from the ’70s. I love the tension between old and new here- the sea, the heavy stone buildings, and then this very contemporary, fast life layered on top. We walk through the market a lot, not as an “outing,” just as part of the week. The kids know which stalls have the good random treasures.

That constant exposure to history, patina, and imperfection shapes how we design and also how we parent. There’s a built‑in sense of curiosity and openness. You learn to look twice at things.

What do you actively do with the kids to nurture their creativity?

I believe that exposing our children to what we do opens them up to creativity. They see everything: exhibitions I curate, sketches for Lior's tattoos, samples for Palms and Tigers, books spread everywhere. When Ruby comes with me to a show, we talk about how to behave in an exhibition space, but also about what he feels when he sees a certain work. It’s less of an “art education” and more of a conversation.

Sometimes he’ll suddenly draw something and tell me, “This is a print for the shop!” That sense that his ideas are valid- that they can travel from a piece of paper into the real world is important to me.

At home, because their creative corner is in the main space, they don’t need permission to start. They paint while we cook, they draw while we have coffee. There’s no big switch between “now we’re serious adults” and “now it’s kid time.” It all overlaps.

As a busy creative and parent, where do you find your own recharge?

Working out, staying active and moving my body is essential for me to recharge. Having these little moments of reset and self care are a true anchor in this busy life of a self-employed creator in Israel.

Then there are the slower crafts. I’m very drawn to repetitive, almost ancient techniques- like weaving rattan baskets. It’s both meditative and productive, which is satisfying for someone who always needs to be making something.

Travel is another big one. Being in a city that’s not ours, just walking, touching different textures, seeing how people live recharges everything. Our recent trip to Rome was beautiful because the kids were old enough to respond to the city. Seeing them look up at frescos and fountains, asking questions, was like viewing the city with a whole new lens.

And then there’s the constant flow of inspiration: exhibitions, art and design books, architecture, fashion. I love watching the dialogue between old and new in all of those fields.

Do you have any unique family rituals that celebrate creativity?

Our rituals are very simple and very everyday. I don’t set aside a specific “creative hour.” Instead, creativity sneaks into tiny things: walking around the neighborhood and inventing stories about buildings, reading together, cooking and letting them mix and taste, caring for plants on the balcony.

Sometimes we put on music and have a mini dance party in the living room. Sometimes we fold laundry together and suddenly the pile of clothes turns into mountains and caves in their game. I actually believe boredom is important- those moments when nothing is planned and they have to invent their own world. From that, the best ideas come.

As a creative parent, what do you wish for your kids’ creative growth- and for your own?

I don’t care which medium they choose, or if they choose any at all, as long as they stay curious. I want them to trust their taste, to feel comfortable changing their minds, and to understand that making things sometimes means making mistakes.

For myself, I want to keep expanding horizontally rather than climbing some imaginary ladder. More collaboration, more crossovers between curating, craft, design, and the brand. As the kids grow, I imagine they’ll become more active collaborators too- maybe in the way we photograph, the stories we tell, the things we design for Palms and Tigers. I love the idea of our creative life stretching and shifting as they do.

What’s currently on your August Moon wishlist?

So much. Honestly, almost everything the kids wore during this photoshoot could quietly move into their wardrobe and I’d be very happy! If I have to highlight one thing, the new Misha & Puff Spring 26’ collection really stands out. It feels like wearable little artworks- thoughtful, beautifully crafted pieces that you’d want to keep and pass down, not just cycle through.