‘It’s been rough for so many people in this room’
Honoured by the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel, artist Zoe Buckman talked about why art and human connection matter in the wake of rising antisemitism
Artist Zoe Buckman used an emotional appearance as guest of honour at the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI) annual luncheon to reflect on the isolation many Jews have experienced since 7 October and the importance of finding community in increasingly difficult times.
Honoured for both her artistic achievements and support of the charity, the London-born, New York-based artist spoke candidly to art writer and curator, Carrie Scott about the personal impact of the past two years. “It’s been rough” she said. “It’s really made me appreciate community.”
Buckman admitted she had found the climate deeply unsettling, describing experiences of “adult bullying and ostracism” which had made her wary of forming new relationships.
“When you come across these allies, it’s such a big deal,” she said, thanking the organisation for welcoming her. “I’ve been a huge fan for years; I really appreciate you guys.”
Introducing Buckman, in her welcome chair Nicola Blake stressed the importance of museums as places where difficult conversations can take place.
“No art museum or artist should be the subject of a boycott or have to hide their identity. Museums are shared cultural spaces. They preserve the past, shape our understanding of the present and transform how we see the future. They give voice to people who may otherwise not be heard.”
Co-chair Pamela Crystal described how BFAMI is helping museums become places of healing as well as culture, from creative programmes for young families such as the Room of Wonder at the Haifa Museum of Art; restorative spaces for teachers and social workers at Hansen House, to pioneering printmaking rehabilitation projects for wounded veterans at the Petach Tikva Museum of Art. The initiatives, she stressed, demonstrate how art is helping communities recover from the trauma of war.
For Buckman, whose work explores identity, feminism, violence and resilience, the themes could not have been more personal. Reflecting on moving from London to New York 20 years ago, she said motherhood ultimately gave her the confidence to trust her own artistic voice.
“I discovered I had something to say. Maybe people might want to hear it. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. What’s most important to me is authenticity,” she said.
Buckman, who also writes, explained that she eventually abandoned using the words of other writers in favour of her own, believing this was the only way she could make truthful art.”I can’t authentically make work unless I’m being vulnerable and telling the whole thing.”
That commitment has meant confronting painful experiences, including abusive relationships, within her work, even when revisiting those memories remains difficult. She also challenged what she sees as an increasingly polarised world.
“We want to be able to say this thing is bad and this thing is good,” she said. “I want to be able to say: ‘No. Hold us in between.'”
It is a philosophy that has informed her willingness to continue speaking publicly despite the hostility many Jewish artists have encountered since 7 October 2023.
For the event which celebrated the power of art to unite communities and preserve identity, Buckman’s support included donating her own artwork, MataJi(2020), a hand-embroidered ink piece. It sat alongside the donated painting The Rainbow Shabbat by Judy Chicago, who has also publicly criticised the cultural ostracism of Jewish and Israeli artists and defended their right to participate in exhibitions and cultural life.
- A full interview with Zoe Buckman is in the current issue of Life Magazine.
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