Heroes of the Holocaust by Meryl Lettire

Heroes of the Holocaust is a series of fabric assemblage portraits honoring stories of creative resilience during one of the darkest chapters in human history. These works pay tribute to artists who, despite enduring unimaginable hardship, found solace, strength, and voice through their art. After years of research into the lives of artists persecuted during the Holocaust, I have come to see their work not only as expressions of survival but as acts of resistance—powerful affirmations of their humanity.

Each portrait is constructed from layered textiles, drawing on the narrative traditions of African American quilting and the collage techniques of Romare Bearden. I apply tiny pieces of fabric to the canvas like strokes of paint—each scrap chosen for its color, tone, and texture—blending together to form an expressionist whole. From a distance, the portraits resemble paintings; up close, they reveal the intricate detail and physical labor that mirror the endurance of the stories they represent.

This series took on new urgency following the October 7th terror attacks in Israel and the wave of antisemitic propaganda that followed. The resurgence of centuries-old tropes—blood libels, conspiracy theories, and narratives casting Jews as aggressors—struck deeply. I am Jewish. I am the other. This hatred now directly affects my well-being. The historical parallels between today’s rising antisemitism and the events that preceded the Holocaust are too dangerous to ignore.

Guided by the Jewish principle of tikkun olam (תִּקּוּן עוֹלָם)—"repairing the world"—my work is rooted in the belief that art can foster empathy and drive social change. I’ve always been deeply committed to human rights and to amplifying voices that are silenced. As a child who experienced years of bullying for being overweight, I knew what it felt like to be powerless and voiceless. That experience instilled in me a lifelong determination to stand with those who are targeted or dehumanized.

Through these portraits, I hope viewers not only remember the individuals portrayed but also see themselves in these stories—and feel moved to resist hatred in all its forms. Let these works serve as both memorial and call to action: to preserve memory, to resist dehumanization, and to advocate for a more just and compassionate world.

Meryl Lettire graduated from Pratt Institute in 1986 with a BFA in Communication Design and earned her MA in Education from St. Peter’s University in 1998. Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, she pursued a vibrant career in fine arts and illustration. Her clients included The New York Times, Boston Globe, Musician, In-Fashion, Travel & Leisure, Billboard, Estée Lauder, Playboy, Random House, Adweek, Scholastic, Pratt Institute, and many others.

Her illustrations gained wide recognition, earning her inclusion in multiple Society of Illustrators shows at the Museum of Illustration in New York City. Her work was represented by Schulte Galleries in both New York City and New Jersey.

In the 1990s, Lettire shifted her focus to family life and a new path in education. Over the next two decades, she dedicated herself to teaching while continuing to nurture her creative spirit. As an art educator, she received several prestigious honors, including the 2009 Axelrod Award from the NJ Commission of Holocaust Education and the Anti-Defamation League, the 2001 Distinguished Teacher Award from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, and the 1996 Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Fellowship.

In 2023, Lettire retired from teaching to return to her art practice full-time, focusing exclusively on textile assemblage, where she works with bits and pieces of fabric to create cohesive images. Her recent series, The Madonnas and Heroes of the Holocaust, were highlighted in Women United Art Magazine and exhibited at ArtWRKD in Newtown, PA, curated by Ashara Shapiro. Both series are slated to travel across the United States and internationally. Lettire continues to create work that informs, inspires, and invites viewers into deeper conversations about history, identity, and resilience through detailed portraits of significant individuals whose stories she is compelled to share.

Image Credits:

Boris Taslitzky Hero of the Holocaust. Fabric on Panel. 20" x 16"

“Self Portrait; Journey to the Heroes of the Holocaust”. Fabric on Panel. 22" x 30".