Survivor. Engineer. Sculptor. Grandfather.
Meet Henry.
Henry Friedman survived the Holocaust and built a life with Bess and their family in the Detroit area. He made sculptures from discarded metal, drawing on Jewish history, faith and his own experiences.
His family remembers the man with a quick joke, a love of flea markets, and the insistence that he was “98 years young.” This archive brings together his art, photographs and family memories.
Come get to know Henry
Explore his life and work.
Start with his story, open the family album, or explore the collection and its history.
His story & legacy
The life he built, the people he loved, and the message he left us.
Read Henry’s story The family albumPhotographs
Henry and Bess, his workshop, and familiar moments through the years.
Open the photo album Made by HenryAll 38 sculptures
Look closely at the complete collection and the stories behind the metal.
Browse the collection The historical archiveHistory & records
Discover the documents, photographs, and sources that preserve his history.
Explore the archiveA few places to begin
The art Henry made.
Henry worked with machine parts, scrap metal and objects gathered at flea markets and junkyards. His sculptures explore Holocaust remembrance, Jewish ritual, biblical stories and the possibility of peace.
Open a work to see its photograph and catalog entry, or browse the complete collection using search and filters. Titles and measurements follow the family’s current records; creation dates and some object details remain under research.
Henry gifted three additional sculptures to the Zekelman Holocaust Center. They belong to the Center and are separate from the family’s 38 works. Read more about the gifted works →
Where the sculptures began
Step inside his workshop.
Explore Henry’s tools, handwritten plans and paper templates, preserved by his family.
Explore the drawings & workshop →
In Henry’s words
“The future is yours.”
Henry spoke to young people about the Holocaust because he wanted them to recognize prejudice and understand their responsibility to one another.
His family hopes his sculptures and story will continue those conversations. His full message is preserved in the biography, in the wording his family remembers from his talks.
Read Henry’s full messageMuseums, educators & community
Share Henry’s work.
The family welcomes conversations about exhibitions, educational programs, research and the long-term stewardship of Henry’s work. The catalog covers 38 metal sculptures, with photographs and the measurements currently available.
A display might focus on Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, or Henry’s use of industrial materials. These are possibilities for discussion, rather than scheduled exhibitions. Individual works, transport, insurance and installation would need to be agreed with the family.
Henry’s grandson, Daniel Snyder, is available for presentations about Henry’s life, artwork and legacy, sharing a family perspective with schools, museums and community groups.
About the records
This site brings together family recollections, photographs and collection records. Some biographical dates, artwork dates and measurements are still being checked. The archive explains the evidence and open questions. Interpretations of the sculptures are contemporary family and curatorial writing unless explicitly attributed to Henry.
Read the historical records and source notesGet in touch
Daniel Snyder
Henry’s grandson and collection steward
daniel.snyder09@gmail.com
My grandfather—my Zayde—wanted to leave a legacy. I’m preserving his sculptures and sharing his story so people who never knew him can discover his art, learn about his life, and help carry his memory forward.
Did you know Henry, recognize a photograph, or want to discuss his artwork? The family would like to hear from you.
A collection dossier and sculpture inventory are available on request. Daniel is also available for presentations to schools, museums and community groups about Henry’s life, artwork and legacy. Email him to request materials or discuss presentations, exhibitions and educational programs.