Tribecan Martin Schoeller has an exhibit of his remarkable portraits at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, running through June 1 (it’s been up since September). The show, titled “Survivors: Faces of Life After the Holocaust,” features 75 photographs created to mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.

This exhibit was originated by Schoeller and Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Israel, in 2019 and includes a film documenting the photography shoots, bios accompanying each photo and quotes from the sitters. He created the series to combat the rising hate and antisemitism across the globe and drew inspiration from the Holocaust education he received in his youth.

Schoeller is one of the world’s most prominent contemporary portrait photographers. His style of extreme close-up portraiture with intense lighting has been utilized across his career.

“This project is very close to my heart, born out of my experience growing up in Germany, and I’m so proud to bring it to New York and the Museum of Jewish Heritage,” he said. “I hope that the series resonates with the survivor community here and inspires New Yorkers of all backgrounds to envision a more tolerant and peaceful future.”

The portraits are on display in the museum’s rotunda on the third floor, recently named in memory of Rita Lowenstein, who survived the Holocaust as a child hidden under a false identity.

One of Schoeller’s subjects, Sara Leicht, who died in 2021, told him in the interview for the shoot, “The most important thing we can do is to love. To love more and to love everyone. To be kinder, more humble, and more generous, and to be better people. To love our fellow human beings, whoever they are.”

Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
36 Battery Place
646.437.4202
Sunday and Wednesday, 10a to 5p
Thursday, 10a to 8p
Friday, 10a to 3p
Closed Monday and Saturday
The Museum is free on Thursdays between 4 and 8p