Remembering Yervant Gianikian, Valerie Brathwaite, and Jerry Moriarty
This week, we honor a selection of influential figures recently lost to the art world, including a visionary of 20th-century avant-garde cinema, an abstract sculptor who channeled the natural landscape, and a beloved self-described “paintoonist.”
In Memoriam is published every Wednesday afternoon, paying tribute to the artists, curators, and cultural icons who have recently passed away.
Yervant Gianikian (1942–2026)
Armenian-Italian filmmaker, artist, and architect
Alongside his longtime partner and collaborator, the late Angela Ricci Lucchi, Gianikian was a towering figure in experimental cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Their analytical approach to archival film produced seminal works like From the Pole to the Equator (1986) and Prisoners of War (1995), exploring the dark mechanics of European colonialism and history. His final multi-part project, Angela’s Diaries – The Two of Us, Filmmakers (2018–26), served as both a historical record and a deeply personal tribute to his partner. Gianikian’s work is preserved in permanent collections worldwide, including MoMA and Tate Modern, and the duo was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for the Armenian Pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale.
Valerie Brathwaite (1938–2026)
Abstract sculptor of the natural world
Born in Trinidad and later based in Caracas, Brathwaite translated the distinct geography, lush vegetation, and varied wildlife of her dual environments into sinuous, organic sculptures and fluid drawings. Beyond her visual practice, she was an avid DJ, curating complex sonic landscapes that blended jazz, electronic music, and freestyle rhythms.
Richard H. Glanton (1946–2026)
Former president of the Barnes Foundation
Serving as the president of Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation during the 1990s, Glanton steered the institution into the public eye through a series of bold, highly controversial maneuvers. In a bid to raise funds and elevate the museum’s profile, he organized an international tour of its prized Impressionist masterworks—a decision that directly challenged the strict, historically insular terms established by the foundation’s eccentric creator.
Herbert Lust (1926–2026)
Collector and confidant to Postwar masters
A vibrant, charismatic fixture of the postwar art scenes in Paris and New York, Lust built deep, personal friendships with legendary figures such as Alberto Giacometti, Alexander Calder, and Robert Indiana. Over a lifetime of dedicated collecting, he amassed a formidable array of modern art, frequently donating landmark pieces to major American institutions like the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Beth McKillop (1953–2026)
Curator who pioneered Korean art scholarship
McKillop fundamentally reshaped the Western museum landscape by establishing Korean art history as a distinct area of study in the United Kingdom. During her tenure at the Victoria & Albert Museum, she spearheaded the creation of the UK’s very first permanent gallery dedicated exclusively to Korean art, while actively expanding the museum’s holdings with over 100 rare historical and contemporary acquisitions.
Jerry Moriarty (1938–2026)
Painter, underground cartoonist, and educator
Coining the term “Paintoonist” to describe his singular blend of fine art painting and comic narrative, Moriarty was best known for his iconic, melancholy graphic work Jack Survives (1980). The strip became a classic of the medium after Art Spiegelman insisted on publishing it in the influential avant-garde anthology Raw. Alongside his independent painting practice, Moriarty was a prolific commercial illustrator for publications like The New Yorker and Esquire, and spent decades mentoring young talent at the School of Visual Arts.
Sharon Dede Padi (1976–2026)
Ghanaian painter, poet, and world record holder
A prominent champion of contemporary West African art, Padi established the Padiki Art Gallery in Accra to showcase her own expressionistic canvases and cultivate a supportive space for emerging regional creators. She achieved global recognition last year by securing the official Guinness World Record for the “Largest Leaf Print Painting,” a massive undertaking spanning over 584 square feet (approximately 54.3 square meters).
Angela Rosengart (1932–2026)
Swiss art dealer, collector, and museum founder
Active in the art market since 1948 alongside her father, Rosengart was a key figure in the mid-century European trade of Classic Modernism. She developed close confidant relationships with several artistic giants, notably Pablo Picasso, who immortalized her in five distinct portrait drawings. In 2002, she cemented her legacy by donating her unrivaled personal collection to the public, establishing the Sammlung Rosengart Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Margaret Thomas (1941–2026)
Pioneering photojournalist of the late 20th century
As the first female staff photojournalist hired by the Washington Post, Thomas spent decades capturing the cultural and political shifts of modern American history. Her lens documented era-defining moments, from the tense courtroom drama of the Watergate hearings to the civil unrest in Washington following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her sharp, humanistic eye earned numerous accolades from the White House News Photographers Association, including the coveted Photographer of the Year honor in 1987.
