Auschwitz Prisoner Art
The Silent Witness
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum houses a unique collection of around 4,000 works of art – sketches, drawings and paintings created by prisoners during their imprisonment or by survivors after the liberation of the camp. These works are a powerful, direct testimony to the human spirit in the face of the unimaginable.
A universal language of remembrance
Where words fail, images speak. On scraps of paper and salvaged canvases, prisoners captured the harrowing reality of hunger, forced labour and death. But they also immortalised their hope, their grief and their longing. Because art transcends the traditional boundaries of language, this collection has the universal power to reach every human being, regardless of their background.
In an increasingly visual world, these works of art form the third important link to understanding the history of Auschwitz. They complement the written testimonies of survivors and the physical remains of the camp, thus enabling a more comprehensive perspective on the tragedy of Auschwitz.
In an increasingly visual world, these works of art form the third important link to understanding the history of Auschwitz. They complement the written testimonies of survivors and the physical remains of the camp, thus enabling a more comprehensive perspective on the tragedy of Auschwitz.
The heart of the memorial: a new permanent exhibition
To make these silent testimonies accessible to the world, the creation of a permanent exhibition in the former camp kitchen of Auschwitz I has been launched.
Located in the centre of the main camp, this 2,000-square-metre space will become the emotional heart of the Memorial. The historical building will be carefully restored to create a place of reflection where visitors will learn about the emotional dimensions and existential conditions of those imprisoned in KL Auschwitz.
Located in the centre of the main camp, this 2,000-square-metre space will become the emotional heart of the Memorial. The historical building will be carefully restored to create a place of reflection where visitors will learn about the emotional dimensions and existential conditions of those imprisoned in KL Auschwitz.
%20(1).png)
.png)
Preserving the irreplaceable
The Auschwitz Memorial and Museum is leading this multi-year conservation programme to protect these fragile visual documents. It includes:
- Architectural conservation: a comprehensive preservation of the historical camp kitchen building.
- Artistic conservation: the professional restoration of all 4,000 sensitive works of art.
- Digital recording: the creation of high-resolution digital scans to preserve these material testimonies for future generations.
- Creating a professional exhibition space in the building of the former camp kitchen
Project objectives & global impact
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation is the financial backbone of this initiative. By supporting this exhibition, you are helping to achieve three important goals:
- Preservation: protecting and revealing a comprehensive aspect of the history of Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
- Education: through art providing insight into emotional and existential conditions of the human being in Auschwitz.
- Awareness: creating a global tool to combat the roots of hatred, anti-Semitism and discrimination in the modern world.
%20(2).png)
Your help makes fates visible
The exhibition will offer the Memorial's approximately 2 million annual visitors and the global public a unique confrontation with the painful realities of the camp. A large part of its funding has already been secured – now we want to secure the remaining means through an international campaign. By supporting, you can help us tell the stories of camp prisoners and foster remembrance. Your contribution will ensure that these irreplaceable testimonies are not forgotten, but remain a lasting beacon of truth for humanity.
Donate now
Supported by
© 2026 Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation
