Felka Płatek

A collection of paintings by Felka Płatek resides in the Felix Nussbaum Haus in Osnabrück, serving as a permanent record of the artist's output. Born in Warsaw in 1899, Płatek spent her career as a professional painter, eventually becoming the wife of German artist Felix Nussbaum before her life concluded in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944.

Early Life and Career

Felka Płatek began her life in Warsaw, Poland, in 1899. As a Polish citizen, she pursued a career as a painter during a period defined by rapid artistic shifts. Her work emerged from the specific cultural landscape of Poland, where academic traditions and regional gallery structures influenced the development of artists during the early twentieth century.

Exile and Marriage

Płatek established a significant personal and professional partnership with the German painter Felix Nussbaum. Around 1935, the two artists fled Germany to escape rising tensions. They relocated initially to Paris and then to Ostend. The couple eventually settled in Brussels, where they were married in 1937. Their shared life as painters continued through these years of displacement.

Final Years and Legacy

In 1944, German authorities arrested Płatek and Nussbaum. Following their detention, both were transported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Płatek died there, likely on or about 2 August 1944. Decades later, her artistic footprint remains subject to public attention; in 2014, the International Auschwitz Committee launched a program titled Find Felka! Find Felix! to further explore the couple's history and work.

Fast facts

• Born: 3 November 1899, Warsaw, Poland
• Died: 2 August 1944, Auschwitz
• Nationality: Polish
• Occupation: Painter
• Spouse: Felix Nussbaum

Questions readers ask

Where can the work of Felka Płatek be viewed?

Her work is held in a permanent display at the Felix Nussbaum Haus in Osnabrück.

Did Felka Płatek and Felix Nussbaum marry?

Yes, the couple married in Brussels in 1937.