Every Wednesday afternoon, In Memoriam pays tribute to the notable figures in the art community whom we have recently lost.
Desmond Morris (1928–2026) was a British zoologist, television presenter, and artist known for his influential and often controversial book, The Naked Ape (1967), which portrayed modern humans as fundamentally similar to apes. His surrealist paintings, referred to as “biomorphs,” were exhibited alongside artists like Joan Miró. Morris also famously gave art tools to Congo the chimp, exploring the intersection of art and biology. In his 1979 memoir Animal Days, he reflected on creating a personal world where his imagined organisms would evolve, adhering to biological rules.
Aldwyth (1935–2026), born Mary Aldwyth Dickman, was a South Carolina assemblage artist celebrated for her unique collages and assemblages. She was influenced by the Artists of the Round Table in Hilton Head and received various accolades, including the Anonymous Was a Woman award. Her works are housed in institutions like the South Carolina State Museum, and she was featured in the 2022 PBS documentary Aldwyth: Fully Assembled.
Behailu Bezabih (1960–2026), an Ethiopian artist and educator, played a pivotal role in redefining Ethiopia’s contemporary art scene post-Derg regime. His work merged traditional Ethiopian culture with modern techniques. Bezabih was a founding member of the Dimension Group and served as an assistant professor at the Alle School of Fine Arts and Design at Addis Ababa University.
Alec Cobbe (1945–2026) was an Anglo-Irish conservator, decorator, and collector renowned for designing historic interiors. He worked at the Tate and the Courtauld Institute before establishing his own studio. Cobbe’s visual art and design work are preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum, which hosted an exhibition of his work in 2013.
Tarun Ghosh (1953–2026) was a distinguished Bangladeshi art director, painter, and museum professional. Ghosh was among the first to enroll in the Faculty of Arts at Dhaka University post-independence and dedicated over 20 years to the Bangladesh National Museum. His film Kittonkhola (2000) earned him the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Art Direction, and his artwork received top honors at the National Art Exhibition in 1996 and the Asian Art Biennial in 1997.
