As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, I have been deeply affected by the legacy of perhaps the greatest testament to the power of the human spirit--the survivors.   Through the stories told to me, the photographs hanging on the walls of my childhood home, and the general values placed on living life that were passed along from my grandparents, to my father, and then to me, almost every moment of my life has been shaped, at least in part, by the most tragic and testing event in human history: The Holocaust.

After my grandparents’ passing, I discovered a great void in my life.  These people who had shaped my life so much were suddenly gone, and through that void, I discovered a great responsibility--to honor their lives and the lives of those like them through painting, which I believe is the most communicative of all art forms.  Thus, I created the Holocaust Survivor Portrait Project. 

The purpose of this Project is to have a visual testimony of the lives of these heroes…these survivors.  They are a testament not only to history, but also to the power and strength of the human spirit.  From my own family’s experience, I knew that for many survivors, their past was too difficult to discuss, and I therefore decided to translate whatever they would open up about into a portrait.  These portraits not only give you a visual of what the survivor looks like today, but give you a sense of where they have been, and the incredible journey that their life has taken them on, from tragedy to triumph.

I began this project in 2008 and have completed over 50 portraits thus far.  I intend to continue painting portraits of survivors for as long as we are blessed to have them among us.

     Below you will find a few examples of these portraits.  For inquiries regarding this portrait project, exhibition opportunities, as well as speaking engagements, please contact me through this website.