Holocaust Survivor's Art Shows Healing Through Creation

A remarkable collection of handmade sculptures is giving visitors a powerful glimpse into how art can heal even the deepest wounds.

"Magda Watts, A Handmade Story of Resilience" showcases 13 sculptures created by a Holocaust survivor whose creativity literally saved her life. The exhibition runs through July at Stockton University in Galloway Township, New Jersey, marking the first time this extensive collection has been shown publicly.

Watts was just 15 when Nazis transported her and her family from Hungary to Auschwitz in 1944. While many relatives were murdered, Watts and her sister were sent to a labor camp where Watts began making dolls from scraps of fabric and rags she found.

What started as a coping mechanism became a lifeline. Another girl at the camp traded extra food for one of Watts' dolls, and word spread quickly. Camp authorities soon put Watts, her sister, and two other women to work creating the dolls full time.

"The dolls saved all of their lives," said Rabbi Lynnda Targan, who owns the collection with her husband Larry.

After settling in Israel following liberation, Watts waited nearly four decades before finding the courage to transform her memories into art. She didn't begin creating the sculptures on display until the 1980s, processing her trauma through her hands.

Why This Inspires

Exhibition curator Amanda Cantillon shares one of Watts' most powerful reflections: "The history books say that I was liberated in 1945, but I never truly felt free until I started creating art."

The sculptures tell Watts' complete story, depicting both joyful everyday moments she remembered from before the war and the devastating experiences she endured. Each piece represents not just survival, but the choice to reclaim her narrative through beauty.

Larry Targan's Philadelphia textile business provided materials for Watts' artwork over the years as they developed a close friendship. That relationship helped preserve these extraordinary pieces that now teach new generations about resilience.

Watts passed away in 2019 at age 90, but her legacy lives on through every sculpture. One piece called "Liberation" remains on permanent display at Stockton University for future visitors.

"This is her saying that the Nazis did not win," said Irvin Moreno-Rodriguez of the Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.

Even the deepest despair can give way to hope when we find our voice to tell our stories.