Travel a covert mission in Argentina with real-life spy and artist in St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum’s latest special exhibit

“The Artist Who Captured Eichmann” details the mission of Peter Malkin’s role in capturing Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann.

by SLM Partner Studio September 3, 2024 at 10:36 AM January 22, 2025

The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum is set to debut a captivating new exhibit, “The Artist Who Captured Eichmann,” on September 19. It will mark the first special exhibition since the museum’s reopening in 2022. This unique showcase intertwines history and art, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the Holocaust through the lens of a remarkable true story.

At the heart of the exhibit is a series of prints by Peter Malkin, the real-life Mossad spy and artist, who was famously portrayed by Oscar Isaac in the film Operation Finale. Malkin played a crucial role in the mission to capture Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, one of the primary architects of the Holocaust, in Argentina in 1960.

During his three-week covert operation, Malkin would sketch and paint the pages of his South American travel guide, creating a unique and artistic chronicle of his experiences that serve as both a historical record and a deeply personal expression of the mission’s significance.

“This exhibit offers a tone to the Holocaust that’s a little different,” says Amy Lutz, director of marketing and communications. “It’s a history exhibition, but it’s also an art exhibition. The art pieces themselves are a unique aspect that tells the narrative of the mission to capture Eichmann. They are colorful, interesting, and bring a new dimension to our understanding of this historic event.”

In addition to a dozen pieces of Malkin’s artwork generously donated by Michael Staenberg, the exhibit will feature banners interspersed with the history of the mission, an international collection of artifacts, and local remembrances including a photo album from a St. Louis resident who followed the Eichmann trial.

Together, these elements offer a comprehensive view of the mission’s impact, not just in Argentina and Israel but also in the U.S.

“We wanted to prioritize this in-house exhibition because the art pieces are such a unique thing. It’s an important story to tell, and while the Holocaust is a sobering topic, this exhibition brings moments of hope and excitement that we believe will attract new audiences,” Lutz says.

Bundle your ticket to the special exhibit with a ticket to the permanent Holocaust exhibition, and receive a discount so you can explore the museum’s other exhibits, which feature donated family photos, official documents, and heirlooms that personalize the history of the Holocaust and enrich the experience of visitors.