In Memoriam is a weekly tribute published every Wednesday afternoon to commemorate influential figures we’ve recently lost in the art community.
Richard Gorman (1946–2026)
Renowned Irish colorist
Gorman’s art filled with subtle playfulness delved into geometric forms, inspired by his time in Milan and frequent journeys to Japan, where he crafted handmade kozo washi paper.
Roberta Fallon (1949–2025)
Advocate for Philadelphia artists
An artist and educator, Fallon co-founded Artblog and was instrumental in Philadelphia Sculptors, enhancing opportunities for local artists. She also taught as an adjunct in the Fine Arts Department at Saint Joseph’s University.
Seyni Awa Camara (1945–2026)
Influential Senegalese sculptor
As a member of the Jola ethnic group, Camara’s ceramic creations explored themes like childbearing and spirituality, often featuring distorted visages, a craft she learned from her mother and considered a response to ancestral neglect.
Evelyn Karet (1937–2026)
Esteemed scholar of the Italian Renaissance
Karet specialized in Italian Renaissance drawings and taught at institutions such as Boston College, Wheaton College, and Clark University.
Lorena Levi (1997–2026)
Noted British narrative portraitist
Levi’s portraits of everyday individuals were sometimes painted directly on wood, embodying influences from Alice Neel and Frida Kahlo. Her works also confronted her own battles with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer.
Robert L. Lewis, Jr. (1941–2026)
Florida Highwayman and educator
As a member of the Florida Highwaymen, Lewis helped create the Highwaymen Heritage Trail and was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004. He also taught in schools and community organizations.
Willie “Bill” Reagan (1939–2026)
Another notable Florida Highwayman
Reagan, also inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, taught art in Vero Beach before retiring in 1995. He sold his artwork along roadsides and at new residences.
Koula Savvidou (1959–2026)
Innovative sculptor
Her sculptures and assemblages utilized plaster, metal, wood, and found materials to investigate themes of motherhood, memory, and loss.
Björn Roth (1961–2026)
Key figure of a family art dynasty
Roth continued the family legacy by collaborating with his father, Dieter Roth, and brother, Oddur, to explore material and bodily decay. He was also noted for his abstract watercolors and co-founded an art center in Seydisfjördur, Iceland.
