80 years after Auschwitz was liberated: Ryszard Horowitz’s incredible journey of survival and achieving the American Dream

In a touching moment captured on film, a large group of children can be seen walking out of Auschwitz concentration camp under the watchful eye of nuns. Among them, Regina Horowitz spotted her own child, Ryszard, and desperately pleaded with the camera operator for the footage of her son.

As the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, very few survivors remain to recount their stories. The Horowitz family’s remarkable tale of survival is one such extraordinary account that endures.

The Kraków orphanage relocated Regina Horowitz to a different location, where she experienced a miraculous reunion with her five-year-old son, who was equally amazed to see his mother alive. To their astonishment, they were joined by Regina’s daughter Niusia and her grandmother, all of whom were saved by the altruistic actions of German industrialist Oskar Schindler.

“I found a way of reversing perspective and juxtaposing large objects to make them look small and vice versa,” Horowitz said. 

Horowitz was a master of light. He learned to manipulate light to photograph expensive jewelry and new cars. 

“My art education in Kraków helped me – my devotion to the great masters of painting,” Horowitz explained. 

Ryszard Horowitz receives an honorary doctorate at the University of Warsaw, Poland. Photo courtesy Ryszard Horowitz. (Ryszard Horowitz)

His iconic commercial work captivated audiences in the world of advertising, bringing him fame and prestigious awards. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Warsaw and Wrocław in Poland, and in 2014, his hometown of Kraków made him an honorary citizen.

“Some of my photographs consist of different images taken in different parts of the world, and they are merged into a single unit that’s not jarring but believable. They appear as though they are an instance of a situation that never existed except in my head. That’s why I call myself a ‘photocomposer,” Horowitz explained. 

Award-winning digital photo-composition: Allegory (1992) by Ryszard Horowitz. Photo courtesy Ryszard Horowitz. (Ryszard Horowitz)

He achieved success in his personal life as well. Since 1974, he’s been happily married to Anna Bogusz, and they have two grown sons: Daniel and Emil.

Emil, Ania and Daniel Horowitz. Photo courtesy Ryszard Horowitz.

“I met Ania at a party. She was an architecture student from a Polish family living in Caracas, Venezuela. She was only passing through New York on her way to Paris to continue her studies. She never made it to Paris,” Horowitz smiled, recollecting meeting the love of his life. 

Ania Bogusz and Ryszard Horowitz, 1974. Photo courtesy Ryszard Horowitz.

So many years after he walked out of Auschwitz alive, Ryszard Horowitz feels blessed to live the American Dream with his family, and doing what he loves most – creating his photo compositions . . . and listening to jazz.