Asher Remy-Toledo, a cherished figure in New York’s cultural scene, passed away on February 22 in Medellín, Colombia, at the age of 62. The international art organization he founded, Hyphen Hub, announced his passing due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma in a February 27 Instagram post. Survived by his partner, Stephen McGroarty, Remy-Toledo’s career spanned over three decades, during which he launched and directed numerous impactful media art projects, such as his namesake gallery and Hyphen Hub, established as his flagship initiative in 2013.
Remy-Toledo was a close friend and collaborator to many, remembered for his kindness and acceptance. Known for his intellectual and emotional depth, his life was a continuous exploration for meaning, particularly through art, which he viewed as a communal platform. Despite his serious pursuits, Asher also enjoyed adventures, leaving behind an engaged community and a lasting legacy that significantly shaped media art history.
The Remy-Toledo Gallery, located at 529 West 20th Street in New York’s Chelsea district, operated from 2004 to 2007. In its brief existence, the gallery made a notable impact by showcasing both recognized and underrepresented feminist artists. It featured exhibitions of Carolee Schneemann and other trailblazing artists like Mary Beth Edelson, Judy Chicago, and Ana Mendieta, alongside post-feminist creators such as Monika Weiss, Sara Modiano, and Adriana Marmorek. The gallery also displayed works by conceptual artist Kaarina Kaikkonen and Arte Povera artist Federica Marangoni, among others.
Hyphen Hub was conceived as a modern revival of Red Door, a non-commercial arts venue from the late 1970s and 1980s founded by music producer Giorgio Gomelsky. Collaborating with Mark Bolotin, Asher transformed this concept into a digital-art-focused platform. Established in 2013 at the original Red Door site, Hyphen Hub became a hub for multimedia festivals, salons, and innovative live events. Even after Red Door’s 2015 closure, Hyphen Hub remained active, hosting thematic monthly salons in Asher’s Chelsea loft where artists shared their work and ideas.
In recent years, Asher curated a Latin American segment for the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, Austria. Notably, the 2023 Golden Nica in digital music and sound art was awarded to Atractor + Semántica Productions, a group he spotlighted, for their project A Tale of Two Seeds. This recognition helped Asher secure funding for the Imagenfest in Medellín, which he was organizing at the time of his unexpected passing. Asher’s influence in audio-visual media art endures, but it’s the community he built that continues to carry forward his vibrant spirit.
