Edith Altman facts for kids

Edith Altman (born May 23, 1931, in Altenburg, Germany) is a German-American artist. She moved from Germany to the United States when she was young. Her art often looks at how power works in different groups. She explores how some people or groups have a lot of power, and how others have very little. Edith Altman also studies Jewish mysticism, which is a spiritual tradition. This has greatly influenced her artwork.

Who is Edith Altman?

Edith Altman is an artist known for her thoughtful and powerful works. She uses her art to explore big ideas about society and history. Her personal experiences have shaped much of her creative journey.

Early Life and Escape

Edith Altman was born in Germany in 1931. When she was a little girl, she had to escape Nazi Germany in 1938. She moved to Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Her father, Max Hittman, also escaped. He had been held in a place called Buchenwald since 1938. Sadly, Edith lost her grandfathers and grandmothers during the Holocaust. This was a terrible time when millions of Jewish people were persecuted and killed.

In 1981, Edith Altman studied at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She also spent a month as an artist-in-residence at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Art Gallery. Her artwork can be found in important places like the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (MCA). Today, she lives in the Chicago area.

Her Art and Ideas

Edith Altman's art is deeply connected to her life story. Her experiences as someone who survived the Holocaust are a major influence. Her Jewish faith also plays a big role in her work.

Remembering the Past

In her art, Edith Altman often focuses on remembering the Holocaust. She wants to make sure that people never forget this important part of history. She uses her art to help people think about the past and its lessons.

Important Artworks

Edith Altman has created many meaningful art pieces. Here are two examples:

Reclaiming Symbols

• Reclaiming the Symbol: The Art of Memory (1988) is a painting. In this work, Altman tries to take back the meaning of symbols like the swastika. This symbol was wrongly used by the Nazi regime. She also works with the triangle shape. This shape was used by the Nazis to sort prisoners. Altman wants to return it to its "original purpose" as part of the Star of David. Her painting also includes ideas from kabbalism and Jewish mysticism.

The Golden Tent

• When We Are Born, We Are Given a Golden Tent, and All of Life is the Folding and Unfolding of the Tent (1986) is a performance piece. For this artwork, Altman used a tent made of canvas painted gold. Inside the tent were outlines of herself and her father. This art piece traveled to different exhibits in the United States and Europe. During these events, Altman met with people from many different countries and religions. She wanted to create a healing experience. She also wanted to help people face the pain of the Holocaust, which was a shared experience for many.