This week, we honor an Irish colorist, a Senegalese sculptor, and the steward of a family art dynasty, as well as two Florida Highwaymen.
Lisa Yin Zhang
February 4, 2026
— 3 min read
Richard Gorman with his work (undated) (photo courtesy Kerlin Gallery)
In Memoriam is published every Wednesday afternoon and honors those we recently lost in the art world.
Richard Gorman (1946–2026)Irish colorist
His subtly playful paintings and works on paper explored the interplay of geometric forms. His art was influenced by Milan, where he lived for some time, and Japan, where he regularly traveled to produce handmade kozo washi paper for his works.
Roberta Fallon (1949–2025)Champion of Philadelphia artists
Roberta Fallon in 2013 (photo via Facebook)She was an artist and educator, and co-founder of the arts publication Artblog. She was also a founding member of Philadelphia Sculptors, which sought to provide more opportunities to local artists, and an adjunct faculty member in the Fine Arts Department at Saint Joseph's University.
Read the obituary
Seyni Awa Camara (1945–2026)Senegalese sculptor
Seyni Awa Camara in her courtyard (2008) (photo via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; crop Lisa Yin Zhang/Hyperallergic)Part of the Jola ethnic group, she explored childbearing, spirituality, and more in ceramic works that often featured distorted faces. She learned the craft from her mother and divine intuition, and thought of her work as a response to our indifference toward our ancestors.
Evelyn Karet (1937–2026)Italian Renaissance scholar and educator
She specialized in Italian Renaissance drawings, teaching at schools like Boston College, Wheaton College, and Clark University, where she was on faculty.
Lorena Levi (1997–2026)British narrative portraitist
Lorena Levi (undated) (photo @lorenalevi via Instagram)She painted everyday people, sometimes directly on wood, in a portraiture tradition that included Alice Neel and Frida Kahlo. Other works dealt with her experiences with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer.
Robert L. Lewis, Jr. (1941–2026)Florida Highwayman and educator
Robert L. Lewis, Jr. in an undated photo (photo @florida.highwaymen.museum via Instagram)He was one of the Florida Highwaymen, 26 mostly self-taught Black landscape artists from Fort Pierce who created the Highwaymen Heritage Trail. He was an illustrator for Boeing and taught at schools and community organizations, and was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004.
Willie “Bill” Reagan (1939–2026)Florida Highwayman
Willie Reagan pointing out a plaque with his name on it on the Highwaymen Heritage Trail (photo @visitstlucie via Instagram)Another member of the Florida Highwaymen who was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, Reagan was also an art teacher to middle and high schoolers in Vero Beach before retiring in 1995. He sold his work on the road and in front of new residences.
Koula Savvidou (1959–2026)into sculptor
Koula Savvidou (undated) (photo @sylvia_kouvali via Instagram)She explored themes of motherhood, memory, and loss through sculptures and assemblages that included plaster, metal, wood, and found materials.
Björn Roth (1961–2026)One part of a family art dynasty
He helmed a family art practice that included assisting and collaborating with his father, Dieter Roth, and brother, Oddur, in making art that dealt with material and bodily decay. He was also an abstract watercolor painter, and cofounded an art center and retreat in Seydisfjördur, Iceland.
