Thirteen Months to Save the Artists: The Varian Fry Exhibit at Lieu de Mémoire

The Lieu de Mémoire opened its summer exhibition, “Thirteen Months to Save the Artists: The Fight of Varian Fry,” on July 4th, and it will be available to the public until October 19th. This exhibition sheds light on the remarkable efforts of Varian Fry, a young American journalist who was sent to France by the Emergency Rescue Committee, an organization established in New York just two months prior. Arriving in Marseille on August 14, 1940, with $3,000, a list of 200 people to rescue, and a letter of recommendation from Eleanor Roosevelt, Fry had a brief window of three weeks to secure visas for anti-Nazi artists and intellectuals. His mission, however, extended to thirteen months—until he was expelled by Vichy authorities—during which time he successfully helped over 1,800 individuals, including some of the 20th century’s most influential artists and thinkers, escape imminent danger.

The exhibition, “Thirteen Months to Save the Artists: The Fight of Varian Fry,” showcases artworks by the very artists he helped rescue. It honors Fry’s extraordinary legacy as the first American to be recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1994.

Featured artists include Jean Arp, Hans Bellmer, Victor Brauner, André Breton, Marc Chagall, Frédéric Delanglade, Oscar Dominguez, Max Ernst, Jacques Hérold, Wifredo Lam, Jacqueline Lamba, Roberto Matta, and Sophie Taeuber-Arp. The exhibition also highlights the work and contributions of intellectuals such as Hannah Arendt, Wanda Landowska, and Anna Seghers.

Curated by Emmanuelle Polack, with exhibition coordination and design by Marie Deparis-Yafil, the event saw 90 attendees at its opening, most of whom left with a deep appreciation for Varian Fry’s often-overlooked yet significant contributions.

In 2019, the Lieu de Mémoire in Chambon-sur-Lignon, France, was honored with the European Heritage Label, recognizing its historical importance and continued efforts to preserve the memory of those who fought for freedom and human dignity.