Every Wednesday afternoon, In Memoriam pays tribute to individuals recently departed from the art community, celebrating their contributions and legacies. Among them is Arnulf Rainer (1929–2025), an Austrian abstract painter known for pioneering Art Informel, a movement that introduced intuitive expressionism into abstraction. He co-founded the Hundsgruppe in 1950 and was linked to Vienna Actionism, leaving an indelible mark on the art world.
Beatriz González (1932–2026) emerges as a key player in Latin American contemporary art. This Colombian painter’s work was steeped in local visual culture, reflecting on political events, violence, and societal loss. Silvia Benedetti noted that while her contemporaries, like Andy Warhol and Richard Hamilton, focused on consumer culture, González delved into the intricate ties between taste and social class.
Carmen Arnold-Biucchi (1947–2026), a Swiss art historian, served as the first curator of Ancient Coins at Harvard Art Museums and was a lecturer in its Classics department. Her expertise centered on ancient Sicily, and she played a crucial role in organizing the museum’s vast collection of Roman, Greek, and Byzantine coins.
Dylis Blum (1947–2025) was a prominent fashion curator at the Philadelphia Art Museum, dedicated to the curation and interpretation of historic garments and textile art. Her previous positions included roles at the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of London, contributing to her extensive career in fashion curation.
Janet Fish (1938–2025), a realist painter and screenprinter, was celebrated for her fascination with light and transparency, which she explored through still lifes. Her works depicted the interconnectedness of objects, capturing their essence in evocative compositions.
Remembering William Martin (d. 2025), the long-time director of the Valentine Museum, who steered the institution during financial hardships in the 1990s. Under his guidance, the museum engaged with challenging contemporary issues, including the role of monuments and the Lost Cause ideology.
Robert Mnuchin (1933–2025) established the Mnuchin Gallery in New York City, known for prominent exhibitions of artists like Willem de Kooning. His gallery also showcased works by Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Philip Guston.
Molly Parkin (1932–2026) was a vibrant Welsh painter, fashion designer, and writer, embodying the essence of the ‘Swinging Sixties.’ Her diverse career included roles as an abstract landscape painter, fashion editor, and writer of comic erotica novels.
Jesús Romeo Galdámez Escobar (1956–2025) was a pivotal figure in Salvadoran art, known for his politically charged works. After returning from exile, he held several government positions in El Salvador, continuing his influence on the nation’s cultural landscape.
Mori Yoshiko (1940–2025), co-founder of the Mori Art Museum in Japan, was dedicated to promoting contemporary art. Under her leadership, the museum became a platform for artists from Japan, Asia, and beyond.
Franco Vaccari (1936–2025) was an Italian conceptual photography pioneer, whose work often involved audience interaction. His contributions were showcased in several Venice Biennales, and a retrospective is planned at Museion in Bolzano, Italy, later this year.
Jacklyn St. Aubyn (d. 2025) was a painter known for her mystical and culturally rich still lifes. She also imparted her knowledge as an educator at New Mexico State University for 25 years.
Takerng Pattanopas Curtin (1965–2025) was a Thai sculptor whose work was inspired by his personal journey through illness. His sculptures explored biologically themed environments, and he contributed to the communication design program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
