Graffiti Artist Benzi Brofman Finds Healing by Creating Portraits of October 7 Victims

On October 7, 2023, as horrific scenes unfolded across southern Israel, graffiti artist Benzi Brofman watched in disbelief. Only the day before, he had been at the Re’im parking lot where the Nova music festival would soon turn into a site of terror working on a live graffiti project. Now, as news broke of the deadly Hamas attack, Brofman knew he had narrowly escaped the massacre that claimed hundreds of lives.

In the aftermath, Brofman, a self-taught muralist known for his vibrant urban designs, found a new purpose: creating realistic portraits of the victims and hostages of the October 7 attack. His black-and-white portraits, with touches of color, are now featured in an exhibit titled Faces of October 7th, on display at the Stand With Us education center in Jerusalem. The exhibit is dedicated to memorializing the victims, helping their families, and offering a space for collective mourning.

“This exhibit isn’t just about the drawings,” Brofman said. “It’s about remembering the people behind them. It’s a place for families and communities to grieve and to remember.”

Brofman’s work features both the victims of the Nova festival and many others who were killed or taken hostage. Portraits include members of the Bibas family Shiri, her husband Yarden, and their two young sons Ariel and Kfir who are being held hostage in Gaza. Other portraits feature the five female surveillance soldiers kidnapped from their base, as well as civilians like Ben Bernstein, who lost his life at the festival.

Brofman’s project began just days after the attack, when he was asked to create a portrait of Israel Police Sergeant Vitaly Karasik, who was killed while battling terrorists at the Nova rave. His artistic tribute to Karasik soon grew into a full-time project, and he has since drawn over 100 portraits of those killed, injured, or held captive.

For Brofman, the process of drawing these portraits is both a personal and communal healing journey. Having narrowly avoided becoming a victim himself, he feels a deep connection to those who lost their lives, especially the many young people he knew from his own community in the Jezreel Valley and nearby kibbutzim. “It helps me,” he explained. “Anyone who can get up in the morning and know what they’re doing to help someone else is in a better situation.”

While his artwork now graces walls in major cities like London and Berlin, where he was invited to create graffiti tributes to the hostages, Brofman remains committed to his role in Israel. He regularly meets with the families of the victims, offering them not just his art, but also his empathy.

The exhibit Faces of October 7th runs through October 30 and includes interactive elements like a video, a touchscreen detailing the tragic events of that day, and a virtual reality experience. For Brofman, the exhibit is more than just an artistic showcase it is a space for remembrance, healing, and confronting the profound loss caused by the terror attacks.

Brofman’s powerful work serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity of the Israeli people in the face of unimaginable tragedy. As he continues to create portraits, he honors the lives of the victims while helping their loved ones keep their memories alive.

To visit the Faces of October 7th exhibit, tickets must be reserved in advance.

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