Michael Hafftka (b. 1953, New York City) is an American figurative expressionist painter renowned for his emotionally charged works that delve into themes of suffering, memory, and transcendence. The son of Holocaust survivors, Hafftka's art is deeply influenced by his Jewish heritage and the intergenerational trauma that accompanies it. His paintings often feature solitary figures rendered in gestural brushstrokes, set against stark backgrounds, conveying a profound sense of vulnerability and existential introspection.
Hafftka's artistic journey began in the 1980s, with his work gaining recognition for its raw emotional intensity and philosophical depth. He has described his process as an exploration of the subconscious, aiming to capture the "reality under the surface" from an emotional standpoint. This approach results in artworks that are both deeply personal and universally resonant, inviting viewers to confront the complexities of the human condition.

His paintings are held in the permanent collections of numerous prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the British Museum.
Notable exhibitions of Hafftka's work include a major retrospective at the Housatonic Museum of Art in 2004, showcasing large-scale oil paintings from 1985 to 2003, and "I of the Storm" at the Yeshiva University Museum in 2009, which featured his series on Hebrew letters and explorations of the Zohar.

Beyond traditional mediums, Hafftka has embraced digital art, becoming a prominent figure in the crypto art community. His commitment to exploring new forms of expression while maintaining the emotional core of his work underscores his belief in the transformative power of art.
Through his evocative paintings, Michael Hafftka continues to offer profound insights into the human psyche, making significant contributions to contemporary art and its discourse on memory, identity, and spirituality.