Sam Griffin: Aftermath
April 22 – June 26, 2025
Since October 7th, the world has experienced the horrific impact of a war that has lasted over 15 months, with vivid images of death, displacement, and destruction. Sam Griffin is among Israeli artists of all disciplines who are using art as a way to mirror their experiences, process their memories, and express resilience. In doing so, his works resonate with all those grappling with collective trauma.
Drawing from sketches and photos taken on his phone during his reserve duty in and around Gaza, Griffin has created a series of paintings evoking his experiences. Initially presented in a small solo show at the Jerusalem Biennale (March-April 2024), followed by a more comprehensive exhibition, Second Draft, at the Heichal Shlomo Museum in Jerusalem this winter, his works are on view for the first time in the US at the Heller Museum.
In his timely and meaningful exhibition, Griffin portrays the disquieting stillness of open landscapes and deserted urban views in and around Gaza. Through the very quick application and erasure of his paint, Griffin conveys the psychological and physical intensity, anxiety, and tension of impending violence, which is not depicted, and its aftermath.
Griffin explains, “After three and a half months of combat in Gaza, I returned home tense and burnt out. The sharp transition between being a fighter and being a father and spouse left me unable to function. I had to restore myself to myself and somehow integrate these various parts within me and between life itself. One of my tools was painting. Entering the studio was my way to process the experience, express and explain everything I’m going through inside, and everything I underwent in external reality through a visual language.”
Exhibition curator Ram Ozeri, founder of the Jerusalem Biennale, explains, “Griffin’s process enables him to work toward recovery and repair. His paintings invite the viewer to reflect on the complexities of war, terror, and loss and the long and slow transition back to normal life.”
Jean Bloch Rosensaft, Heller Museum Director, adds, “Griffin’s works, forged in the crisis of war, ultimately convey the human capacity for resilience and express the hope for peace and a better future for humankind that we all share.”