Clara Grusq finds Healing in Jewish Art
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Havurah on October 21, 2024.
Clara Grusq is a Jewish multidisciplinary artist, writer, and creative director based in New York. Born in Paris, France, and descended from Holocaust survivors and resistants of the Algerian War, Clara brings a deeply personal and historical perspective to her work. She made her Off-Broadway debut at the Actor’s Temple with the second run of her first play, The Oath.
In the realm of visual arts, Clara is the founder and creative director of Souk Studio, a turnkey solution to production and media. She has lent her keen eye to numerous fashion editorials, showcasing her distinctive vision. As the founder of Souk Studio, Clara continues to contribute to innovative projects across various creative disciplines such as advertising campaigns, editorials, and music videos.
In every aspect of her artwork and creative journey, Clara aims for her audiences to experience the perfect fusion between excitement and disturbance.
Recently, Clara closed her first Off-Broadway production, The Oath, at the Actors Temple, a play she both wrote and directed. The narrative explores the journey of two men returning to their hometown in Poland, 20 years after the Holocaust, now living in Israel. Clara’s work delves into the profound trauma and PTSD experienced by survivors while also engaging with the aftermath of the Holocaust.
Being a student has significantly shaped Clara’s Jewish identity, particularly because she often felt disconnected from a Jewish community during her time in school. Without a Jewish circle around her, she felt a desire to celebrate her identity but often felt unable to do so. However, since October 7th, Clara has made a conscious effort to build a sense of community for others who may have felt similarly isolated. She now lights Shabbat candles regularly and, whenever possible, hosts Shabbat dinners with her friends—regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds. It’s important to her that the people she cares about experience the warmth, inclusivity, and beauty of their traditions. Clara believes that Jewish culture is rich and meaningful, and this newfound sense of belonging has been transformative.
Over the past year, the resurgence of antisemitism has paradoxically strengthened Clara’s sense of Jewish identity. The appalling ignorance she has witnessed has illuminated the limits of assimilation. Since October 7th, Jewish people have been reminded of their enduring status as ‘other,’ subjected to scrutiny and judgment under entirely different standards. This realization has compelled Clara to speak out more forcefully. Her artistic focus has now shifted toward examining and expressing the Jewish experience in all its complexity. Clara has made a conscious choice to never hide her identity again.
For Clara, visual art is a therapeutic practice. She often portrays herself in her paintings as a way to hold up a mirror to her reality, constantly placing herself in surreal settings. In works like Chaya, she used a family photograph of her grandfather and his brother as young boys in pre-war Poland, capturing a moment frozen in time. With Les Dames de la Casbah Clara enjoyed painting the delicious food that would be served at a Saturday Shabbat lunch, alongside beautiful grandmothers smoking cigarettes and peeling oranges. When she closes her eyes, she can vividly picture herself there. In a way, Clara feels she is trying to create worlds she’s never known and has been longing for—the lost worlds of her ancestors, filled with the hidden secrets of her identity.
