Public art exhibit in Chesterfield promotes peace with Holocaust survivor portraits and stories
From St. Louis on the Air by St. Louis Public Radio
April 20, 2026 · 27 min
About this episode
The episode discusses a public art exhibit featuring Holocaust survivor portraits and the inspiration behind the project by photographer Luigi Toscano.
Dozens of Holocaust survivor portraits, each standing more than seven feet tall and over three and a half feet wide, are on display at the District of St. Louis entertainment center in Chesterfield. These images are part of a traveling public art project called “Lest We Forget” by Italian-German photographer Luigi Toscano. The UNESCO Artist for Peace discusses what inspired his project in Germany in 2014 and how people have responded to its installations in different cities across the U.S. He also shares why bringing the “Lest We Forget” program to U.S. public schools — the first such partnership is happening with two rural Missouri schools in Houston and Sedalia — reflects the forward-looking orientation of his work: portraits and stories as a reminder of the past and a reflection of what is possible.
People in this episode
Guest: Luigi Toscano
Topics covered
- public art
- Holocaust
- photography
- education
- peace
Keywords
- Lest We Forget
- UNESCO Artist for Peace
- Chesterfield
- Missouri schools
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Lest We Forget
Books & works: Lest We Forget
Places: Chesterfield, Germany, U.S., Missouri, Houston, Sedalia
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