El Holocausto is a monumental 12-meter tapestry that stands as a tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and all genocide.
Commissioned in 2019 by Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Human Rights, and woven by the artisans of Atelier Pinton in France, this tapestry is the 14th commemorative piece of this oeuvre created for Amnesty International. It brings to life the powerful imagery of a 1944 mural by Mexican artist, Manuel Rodríguez Lozano, made in protest against the Jewish holocaust happening in Europe at the time.
The tapestry was inaugurated on January 27, 2020, at UNESCO in Paris and marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Since then, it has travelled to locations like Mexico City and Dublin’s GPO, ensuring global audiences engage with its symbolism.
The artwork vividly captures the pain and horror of human rights violations and war. Its universal message against hatred, racism and genocide invites reflection on history’s lessons and calls for action to cultivate inclusivity and respect in our present world.
On January 27, 2025, El Holocausto was exhibited at the United Nations’ Palais des Nations for the Holocaust Remembrance Day event, facilitated by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
At the end of April 2025, the Embassy of Ireland in France hosted a special vernissage of El Holocausto, further honouring the tapestry’s powerful message and its role in bearing witness to the enduring importance of memory, justice, and human rights.
In November 2025, Bill Shipsey spoke in the Hemicycle at the World Forum for Democracy to mark the presence of El Holocausto at the Council of Europe.
