A few months ago, UJA launched the Hostage Tag Project, calling on our community members to donate hostage tags and pins — symbols of our collective activism since October 7 — for a planned public art installation.
Now, we've got some great news to share: We’ll be working with Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz — the artists behind the "Kidnapped" posters that became iconic during this hostage crisis — under the creative direction of award-winning curator and art world veteran Shlomi Rabi. With that, it's now time to transform these symbols into a commemorative public art piece, to be revealed October 7, 2026.
Haven’t dropped off your tag yet, but want to ensure inclusion in the final installation? Drop it off at one of our agencies across New York City, Long Island, and Westchester or mail it in by June 26.
For any questions about collection please reach out to Maya Richman.
Dede Bandaid and Nitzan Mintz are internationally recognized Israeli urban artists whose work spans installations, murals, and site-specific public interventions across New York, London, Berlin, Paris, and Tel Aviv. Born in Tel Aviv and now based in Manhattan, they explore through their practice themes of identity, trauma, belonging, and the meaning of "home" and "away." In addition to their public projects, they exhibit in galleries, museums, and art fairs worldwide. In October 2023, they co-created the global “Kidnapped From Israel” campaign — guerrilla-style posters of civilians abducted during Hamas's attacks, made freely available in 33 languages and displayed in cities and on campuses around the world. Through their work, Dede and Nitzan transform public space into a medium for awareness, memory, and collective engagement.