Binem Grunstein b. 26 February 1921

Also known as William Grunstein
  • Artist (Painter)
His skill at portrait painting enabled Binem Grunstein to survive the Nazi concentration camps in World War II. After the war he immigrated to Australia, where he painted landscapes and other works for his own pleasure.
Tags: Holocaust survivor, Jewish, Warsaw Ghetto
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Binem (William) Grunstein was born in Warsaw on 26 February 1921, the son of Herszl Grunstein and his wife Sarah (Kuperman). His parents and almost all of his family were killed in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1941, but Binem escaped to the countryside where he was able to survive by working as a farm labourer. He was joined by his brother Mark, but as the farm could not conceal two fugitive Jews they were captured.
Grunstein’s ability to paint portraits of his Nazi captors led him to survive as he was transferred to a total of 14 prison camps, painting portraits at ever location. After the war he met Chana (Hania) Bornstein, another survivor. He came to Australia as an assisted immigrant in 1949, where he worked as a kitchen hand for the Australian army camp at Casula. In 1951 Chana joined him and they were married at the Great Synagogue in Sydney on her arrival.
He returned to painting while working full-time as both a kitchen hand and making dresses, and later managing a dress factory. He also studied art and fashion at East Sydney Technical College.
He became an active member of the Royal Art Society of NSW, and in his later years taught with them as well as exhibiting with them. He had frequent exhibitions at the Holdsworth Gallery, and his work was acquired by the Sydney Opera House.

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Date written:
2013
Last updated:
2013

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