marian goodman titanic dealer of contemporary art dies at 97 2739431

Marian Goodman, the revered contemporary art dealer who built one of the most influential galleries of the past half-century, died in Los Angeles on Thursday at age 97. Goodman launched Marian Goodman Gallery in New York in 1977 after 15 years running an editions business, and over six decades she championed a roster of challenging artists including Gerhard Richter, John Baldessari, Julie Mehretu, Tacita Dean, and Pierre Huyghe. Her gallery operated on West 57th Street in Manhattan with branches in London and Paris, and she was awarded the Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and the Légion of Honor by France.

seyni awa camara sculptor dead 1234770913

Seyni Awa Camara, a Diola sculptor from Bignona, Senegal, known for her totemic clay sculptures of stacked human bodies, has died. Her work, steeped in spirituality and inspired by a ram's horn she called a 'genie,' gained international recognition after being discovered by anthropologist Michèle Odeyé-Finzi and introduced to Europe by gallerist André Magnin. Despite her global following—including fans like Pharrell Williams and Louise Bourgeois—Camara remained largely unknown in her home country, relying on foreign buyers to sustain her practice.

melvin edwards sculptor dead 1234779467

Melvin Edwards, the pioneering sculptor known for his powerful steel assemblages and "Lynch Fragments" series, has died at the age of 88 in Baltimore. Edwards was a trailblazer who reframed Minimalism by infusing it with political and cultural weight, becoming the first Black sculptor to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in 1970. His work utilized industrial materials like chains and barbed wire to address histories of enslavement, anti-Black violence, and global conflict while maintaining a sophisticated abstract language.

san francisco dealer rena bransten dead at 92 1234774731

Rena Bransten, a foundational figure in the San Francisco art scene, has died at the age of 92 following a heart attack and a subsequent fall. Since founding her eponymous gallery in 1975, Bransten became a champion for California-based artists, with a pioneering focus on women and artists of color. Her gallery represented major figures including John Waters, Dawoud Bey, and Fred Wilson, evolving from its origins in ceramics to a multidisciplinary powerhouse that recently transitioned to a nomadic model.

lucia di luciano painter dead 1234768776

Lucia Di Luciano, an Italian painter associated with the 1960s Arte Programmata movement, has died at age 93. Her death was announced by her Milan gallery, 10 A.M. Art, without specifying a cause. Di Luciano was known for her hand-painted, gridded black-and-white abstractions that mimicked computer-generated patterns, made with house paint and acrylic. Despite painting for nearly eight decades, she only gained wider international recognition in 2022 when her work was included in the main exhibition of the Venice Biennale, curated by Cecilia Alemani. Her career saw a late surge, with appearances at Tate Modern's "Electric Dreams" exhibition, art fairs like Frieze Masters and Independent 20th Century, and a solo show at Herald St. in London. The Maxxi museum in Rome is organizing a retrospective set to open in 2027.

dara birnbaum lynn hershman leeson tribute 1234757303

This tribute article recounts the profound impact of artist Dara Birnbaum's work on the author, describing a chance meeting with Birnbaum at MoMA's café and the subsequent friendship that developed. It highlights Birnbaum's pioneering role in video art, including her manipulation of single video frames and use of color bars, and cites key works like "Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman" (1978–79), "Local TV News Analysis" (1980), and "MTV: Artbreak" (1987) that deconstructed mass media and gender representation.

dara birnbaum lynn hershman leeson tribute 1234757303

Artist Lynn Hershman Leeson pays tribute to pioneering video artist Dara Birnbaum, recounting her first profound encounter with Birnbaum's work and a serendipitous meeting at MoMA's café. Birnbaum, who died recently, was among the first artists to manipulate single video frames and use color bars in her work, creating subversive pieces like "Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman" (1978–79) and "Local TV News Analysis" (1980) that deconstructed mass media and exposed the invisibility of women in mediated environments.

Comment | Why Frank Gehry was the ultimate artist’s architect

Frank Gehry (1929-2025) is remembered as the ultimate artist's architect, a figure whose career was deeply intertwined with the visual arts. The article highlights his lifelong friendships with numerous Los Angeles artists, his design of exhibitions for them, and his creation of iconic art museums like the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao (1997) and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (2014). Gehry believed his buildings offered artists a strong alternative to the white cube, and he renovated museums such as the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and the Philadelphia Museum of Art with a remarkably light touch. His early exposure to art through a ceramics course with Glen Lukens at USC helped steer him toward architecture.

egidio marzona dead avant garde collector archive 1234777644

Egidio Marzona, the influential German-Italian collector, publisher, and patron, has died at the age of 81 in Berlin. Renowned for his intellectual approach to collecting, Marzona focused on the 20th-century avant-garde, including movements such as Bauhaus, Dada, Fluxus, and Arte Povera. Unlike traditional collectors, he prioritized the preservation of archives, letters, and ephemera alongside physical artworks, viewing the "paper trail of ideas" as essential to understanding artistic history.

lorena levi painter dead 1234770502

Lorena Levi, a British artist known for her narrative portraits painted on wood, died on January 8 at age 29 after battling pancreatic cancer. Her death was announced via Instagram. Levi gained rapid momentum in the UK art scene over the past few years, staging a show in Milan with M+B gallery, participating in the V.O. Curations program, and being added to Marlborough Gallery's roster shortly before it closed in 2023. Her work is held in the British government's national collection. She was born in Istanbul in 1997, raised in Tel Aviv and the UK, and studied at Art & Guilds in London and Edinburgh College of Art.

Remembering Erik Bulatov, the Soviet artist who reframed propaganda

Erik Bulatov, the Soviet-born artist known for overlaying Communist Party slogans onto luminous landscapes, died in Paris on 9 November. A key figure in the underground art movement of the 1970s and 80s, he was part of the Sretensky Group alongside Ilya Kabakov and others, navigating state censorship by illustrating children's books. His most famous work, *Glory to the CPSU* (1975), sold for $2.1m in 2008, and in 2025 he was ranked the most expensive living Russian artist by The Art Newspaper Russia.

tony fitzpatrick chicago artist obituary 1234757844

Tony Fitzpatrick, a prominent figure in Chicago's art scene, died at age 66 on October 11 from a heart attack while awaiting a double lung transplant at Rush University Medical Center. He was an artist, printmaker, poet, writer, actor, gallerist, and city booster, known for collages combining vintage illustrations, tattoo art, words, and natural motifs. His work is held by major institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art. He also ran several Chicago galleries—The Edge, World Tattoo, and The Dime—and published a book, The Sun at the End of the Road: Dispatches From an American Life.

Desmond Morris, zoologist, presenter and surrealist painter, 1928–2026

Desmond Morris, the zoologist, author, television presenter, and surrealist painter, has died at the age of 98. He was best known for his 1967 book *The Naked Ape* and the television program *Zoo Time*, but maintained a parallel, influential career in the visual arts as a painter and curator.

giancarlo politi founder flash art magazine died at 89 1234775109

Giancarlo Politi, the influential founder and publisher of Flash Art magazine, has died at the age of 89. Established in Rome in 1967, Flash Art became a cornerstone of international art criticism, famously documenting the rise of the Arte Povera movement and providing an early platform for iconic artists like Marina Abramović, Maurizio Cattelan, and Jeff Koons. Politi, alongside his wife Helena Kontova, transformed the publication into a global network that bridged European and American art scenes, effectively serving as a "hands-on school" for generations of critics and curators.

Remembering Gathie Falk, Canadian artist whose singular practice sparked comparisons to Surrealism and Pop art

Gathie Falk, the acclaimed Canadian artist known for her six-decade practice spanning Surrealist paintings, hand-fashioned ceramics, sculptural installations, and performance, died at her home in Vancouver on 22 December at age 97. Her work transformed everyday objects—glazed ceramic apples, cabbages, shoes, and watermelons—into jewel-like sculptures and installations, with notable series including "Picnics" (1976-77), "Cement With Poppies" (1982), and "55 Oranges" (1969-70). Born in rural Manitoba in 1928 to Mennonite refugees, Falk initially pursued music before turning to art at age 37, studying ceramics with Glenn Lewis and developing a practice rooted in what she called a "veneration of the ordinary."

Jasmine Little, Los Angeles Painter and Ceramicist, Dies at 41

jasmine little painter dead 1234774112

Los Angeles-based artist Jasmine Little has passed away at the age of 41, as confirmed by her gallery, La Loma. Known for her versatile practice that spanned lush still-life paintings and intricate sgraffito ceramic vessels, Little's work often blended historical references with personal mythology. Her gallerist, Kirk Nelson, remembered her as a "force of nature" who produced monumental sculptures and detailed narratives through intense, dedicated periods of creation.

Renowned gallerist Marian Goodman has died, aged 97

Marian Goodman, the renowned contemporary art dealer, died on 22 January at the age of 97. Her eponymous gallery confirmed she passed peacefully of natural causes. Over a 60-year career, Goodman built a reputation for representing challenging, conceptually ambitious artists, including Gerhard Richter, Nan Goldin, Anselm Kiefer, Julie Mehretu, William Kentridge, and Nairy Baghramian. She opened her first gallery in New York in 1977 and later expanded to Paris and London, before closing the London space in 2020. In her final decade, the gallery saw high-profile departures but also added new artists and opened a Los Angeles location in 2023 and a new Tribeca space in 2024. A succession plan was announced in 2021, and the gallery is now led by partners Emily-Jane Kirwan, Rose Lord, Leslie Nolen, and Junette Teng.

Beatriz González, indefatigable force in Colombian art, has died, aged 93

Beatriz González, the influential Colombian artist, writer, curator, educator, and intellectual known as 'la maestra,' died in Bogotá on January 9 at age 93. Born in 1932 in Bucaramanga, she studied architecture and fine arts before forging a distinctive path in Colombian art, rejecting abstraction and the style of her contemporary Fernando Botero. Her work, including the series 'Suicidas del Sisga' (1965) and 'La Encajera,' reinterpreted Western artworks and local press photographs with flat forms and vibrant colors, often incorporating kitsch and subaltern aesthetics. She was a key figure in the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Mambo), envisioned a school for museum guides, served as chief curator of the Museo Nacional de Colombia, and mentored generations of museum professionals.

Robert Mnuchin, the blue-chip gallerist who loved the drama of the auction saleroom, has died aged 92

Robert Mnuchin, the prominent New York gallerist who transitioned from a 33-year career on Wall Street to become a major force in the art world, has died at age 92. After heading the trading desk at Goldman Sachs, he co-founded C&M Arts in 1992 with James Corcoran, later establishing L&M Arts with Dominique Lévy in 2005, which was renamed Mnuchin Gallery in 2013. Known for his aggressive bidding at auction, Mnuchin made headlines with high-profile purchases including Roy Lichtenstein's *Sinking Sun* (1964) for $15.6 million in 2006 and Jeff Koons's *Rabbit* (1986) for $91.1 million in 2019, the latter a record for a living artist at the time.

Remembering Pearl Fryar, Siri Aurdal, and Frank Stack

The art world mourns the loss of several influential figures, including self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar, who transformed a South Carolina cornfield into a botanical landmark, and painter Celeste Dupuy-Spencer, known for her politically charged works featured in the Whitney Biennial. The week's memorials also include Norwegian sculptor Siri Aurdal, a pioneer of industrial materials in the 1960s Scandinavian scene, and Frank Stack, the educator and cartoonist credited with creating the first underground comic.

Egidio Marzona, Collector Who Built a Monument to the Avant-Garde, Dies at 81

Egidio Marzona, the influential German-Italian collector, publisher, and patron, has died at age 81 in Berlin. His vast collection focused on 20th-century avant-garde movements, from Dada and Bauhaus to Fluxus and Arte Povera, and was distinguished by its deep archival holdings of letters, diagrams, and ephemera that documented the intellectual processes behind the art.

artist drew struzan star war harry potter movie posters dies 78 1234757334

Drew Struzan, the artist behind iconic movie posters for franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones, died on October 13 at age 78 after a battle with Alzheimer's. His wife, writer Dylan Struzan, announced his passing on Instagram, noting his daily engagement with the works of Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne, and his deep influence from professor Lorser Feitelson and the Impressionists.

artist drew struzan star war harry potter movie posters dies 78 1234757334

Drew Struzan, the artist behind iconic movie posters for franchises like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones, died on October 13 at age 78 after a battle with Alzheimer's. His wife, writer Dylan Struzan, announced the news on Instagram, noting his daily engagement with the works of Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne. Struzan studied under Lorser Feitelson at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and was influenced by Impressionists as well as Renaissance masters like Michelangelo and Pontormo.

robert wilson memorial silence 1234755995

A memorial for the late theater visionary Robert Wilson was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Harvey Theater, featuring a 30-minute period of silence as requested by Wilson before his death at age 83. The gathering drew luminaries including Philip Glass, Rufus Wainwright, Laurie Anderson, ANOHNI, Christopher Knowles, Joan Jonas, and Paula Cooper, none of whom spoke during the main program. The silence was punctuated by shifting lighting and a recorded ringing telephone, followed by remarks from William Campbell, chairman of Wilson's Watermill Center, and Joseph Melillo, former BAM executive producer.

Michel Bassompierre (1948-2026)

French sculptor Michel Bassompierre has died at age 78. Known for his monumental bronze and marble animal sculptures—polar bears, gorillas, elephants, pandas, and horses—he depicted them in moments of rest and balance, simplifying forms in the tradition of François Pompon. Bassompierre studied at the École des beaux arts de Rouen under René Leleu, taught applied arts, and later worked with foundries including Venturi Arte in Italy. His major exhibitions include "Fragiles colosses" at the Jardin des plantes in Paris (2019) and a show at the Musée Despiau Wlérick (2021). In February 2025, the municipality of Vertou announced plans for a Michel Bassompierre museum, slated to open in 2028. He was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2010, received the Légion d'honneur in January 2025, and was promoted to Officier des Arts et des Lettres on April 1, 2025.

Henrike Naumann (1984–2026): Domestic Responsibilities

The article is a personal reflection on the work and legacy of artist Henrike Naumann, who passed away in 2026. The author, a peer from West Germany, contrasts their own upbringing with Naumann's East German background, detailing how Naumann's practice critically examined the domestic interiors and built environments of post-war Germany to explore the social and political responsibilities embedded within everyday objects and art's role as "stage design" in a fascist-leaning society.

Jean-Gabriel Peyre (1941-2026)

Jean-Gabriel Peyre (1941-2026)

Jean-Gabriel Peyre, a distinguished French art dealer and expert in antique ceramics, passed away on March 27 at the age of 85. Originally a fashion professional who worked for Jacques Esterel, Peyre transitioned to the art world in the late 1960s, establishing himself as a preeminent specialist in European ceramics from the 16th to 18th centuries. Based in Paris and later Aix-en-Provence, he was particularly renowned for his expertise in French faience and his significant personal collection of Apt ceramics.

Margareta Magnusson obituary

Margareta Magnusson, the Swedish author and artist who popularized the concept of 'death cleaning' (döstädning), has died at age 92. In her 80s, she wrote the international bestseller 'The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,' which advocated for the mindful decluttering of one's belongings to spare loved ones the burden after one's death.

Philanthropist and Patron Emmanuele Emanuele Dies; Creator of Rome's Palazzo Sciarra and Palazzo Cipolla Museum Spaces

È morto il filantropo e mecenate Emmanuele Emanuele. Fautore a Roma degli spazi museali di Palazzo Sciarra e Palazzo Cipolla

Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele, a prominent Italian philanthropist, jurist, and patron of the arts, has passed away in Rome at the age of 86. Born in Palermo, Emanuele dedicated the latter half of his life to cultural promotion, most notably serving as the President of Fondazione Roma and the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro – Internazionale. His leadership was instrumental in transforming Rome's Palazzo Sciarra and Palazzo Cipolla into significant museum spaces, hosting both permanent collections and major temporary exhibitions.

Shigeo Toya, 1947–2026

Japanese sculptor Shigeo Toya died of pneumonia in Tokyo on April 15, 2026, at age 78. Known for his conceptual approach, Toya spent five decades redefining sculpture beyond Western frameworks, creating works such as *Bamboo Grove II* (1975), the *Woods* series (shown at the 1988 Venice Biennale), and the *Minimal Baroque* series. He was a professor emeritus at Musashino Art University and received Japan's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun.