In Memoriam is a weekly tribute released every Wednesday afternoon, dedicated to remembering notable figures recently lost in the art community.
Lucia Di Luciano (1933–2026), a pioneering Italian painter, was a vital part of the 1960s Arte Programmata movement. Her work intricately combined mathematical precision with artistic expression, particularly in her striking series of black and white grid paintings. Describing her art as a ‘continuous transformation,’ Di Luciano continued painting well into her 90s.
Avant-garde filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim (1942–2025) was a prominent figure in the New German Cinema movement, known for his provocative films on gay life in Germany. His 1971 feature, It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, but the Society in Which He Lives, is credited with igniting a pivotal moment in Germany’s LGBTQ+ history.
Kathleen Goncharov (1952–2025), a significant art curator, most recently served as senior curator at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, organizing numerous renowned exhibitions. Her illustrious 40-year career included roles such as United States Commissioner for the 50th Venice Biennale and curator of the New School Art Collection.
John Axelrod (1946–2026), a passionate art collector and patron, was a dedicated supporter of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, donating nearly 900 works. His private collection was notably centered on Black artists and artists of color.
Guillermo Antonio Goñi Motilla (1956–2026), a Mexican archaeologist, contributed significantly to the understanding of Maya culture on the Yucatán Peninsula through his research and teaching at the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico.
Cecilia Giménez (1931–2025), a Spanish artist, gained unexpected fame after her restoration of a Jesus painting in Zaragoza went viral, transforming the piece into a cultural phenomenon known as ‘Beast Jesus.’
New York gallerist Bob Monk (1950–2025) was influential in the art world, having managed Castelli Graphics in the ’70s and ’80s before joining Gagosian gallery, where he collaborated with artists like Ed Ruscha for over two decades.
