In Memoriam
This week, we pay tribute to a groundbreaking composer, an Indigenous muralist, and a distinguished gallerist from the Upper East Side.
Éliane Radigue’s concert during the festival “Presences electronics” in 2011 (photo Aude Paget/INA via Getty Images)
In Memoriam is published every Wednesday afternoon and honors those we have recently lost in the art world.
Éliane Radigue (1932–2026)
French experimental composer
She was a trailblazer in electronic music during the 1960s, utilizing feedback and tape loops. Her compositions have been featured by the San Francisco Art Institute, New York Cultural Art Center, and other global institutions.
Brad Bucher (1942–2026)
Houston arts patron and collector
Bucher, alongside his wife Leslie, was a notable supporter of Houston’s arts scene, contributing to initiatives such as Rice University’s artist-in-residence program and a gallery at the Glassell School of Art. He was also a committed researcher for MFA Houston’s Latin American art research center.
Axel Burrough (1946–2026)
British architect
As a director at Levitt Bernstein Architects, Burrough played a vital role in the design of the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester, England. He also led projects like the Bristol Beacon concert hall and the Theatre Royal in Bury St. Edmunds.
Thomas Carrillo (1948–2026)
Sculptor
Based in Colorado, Carrillo was a Chicano sculptor who contributed to the New Jersey Korean War Memorial and various other public and private commissions. He specialized in working with stone, steel, bronze, and heavy timber.
Elizabeth Close (1986–2026)
Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara artist
Close, an Adelaide-based artist, was renowned for her painting and mural work. She spearheaded numerous public art projects, classes, workshops, and collaborations with Yolŋu communities.
Michael Hague (1948–2026)
American illustrator
A graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, Hague illustrated a variety of children’s books. His notable works include a reimagining of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows (1980) and the 1984 edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit for Houghton Mifflin.
Margareta Magnusson (1934–2026)
Swedish illustrator and author
Best known for her 2017 book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, Magnusson spent much of her life as an artist and illustrator. She was educated at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm and showcased her work in galleries in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sweden.
Dan McCole (1929–2026)
Boston painter
McCole, once a newspaper owner, rediscovered painting in his 60s and gained acclaim for his unique watercolors. Boston honored him with Dan McCole Day on May 11, recognizing his contributions to the local art community.
Kazumasa Nagai (1929–2026)
Japanese graphic designer
Nagai was instrumental during the Japanese advertising boom of the 1960s as a designer and artist. He developed the logos and visual identities for the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics, Japan Railways, and other entities.
Johanna Saper (1927–2026)
Artist and Holocaust survivor
Saper fled Nazi-occupied Austria at 11, was separated from her parents who perished in the Holocaust, and relocated to the United States with her brother and cousin two years later. She pursued art in mosaics, collages, and sculptures, exhibiting her work in solo and group shows into her later years.
Peter Stanick (1953–2026)
American Pop artist
Stanick, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Fine Arts and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, worked with artists like AbEx painter Jack Tworkov. He was a pioneer in the digital art realm of the 1980s, exhibiting at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Osaka Museum of Art.
Gertrude Stein (1927–2026)
Upper East Side gallerist
An avant-garde art patron sharing a name with the famous American novelist, Stein was an early supporter of the NO!art movement and its founder, Boris Lurie. Her gallery, established in 1963, displayed anti-war art from the movement, works by Salvador Dalí and Allan Kaprow, and featured Yayoi Kusama’s debut installation, Aggregation: One Thousand Boats Show.
