Honoring the Legacy of Lucia Di Luciano, Rosa von Praunheim, and Kathleen Goncharov
**In Memoriam: Celebrating Influential Lives in the Art World**
This week, the art community bids farewell to several iconic figures whose contributions have left a lasting impact. From the precise strokes of Italian painting to groundbreaking film, and visionary curation, these individuals reshaped their fields with passion and innovation.
**Lucia Di Luciano (1933–2026) – Pioneering Italian Painter**
Lucia Di Luciano was a towering figure within the Arte Programmata movement in the 1960s, skillfully incorporating mathematical precision into the realm of painting. Her optically mesmerizing black and white grid series demonstrated this blend of analytical and expressive elements. She described her work as a “continuous transformation” and continued to paint into her 90s, inspiring many with her dedication and vision.
**Rosa von Praunheim (1942–2025) – Avant-garde Filmmaker**
A leading voice in the New German Cinema movement, Rosa von Praunheim used film as a medium to explore and challenge societal views on gay life. His most notable work, the 1971 feature *It Is Not the Homosexual Who Is Perverse, but the Society in Which He Lives*, was pivotal in catalyzing Germany’s “Stonewall moment” and continues to be a touchstone in queer cinema.
**Kathleen Goncharov (1952–2025) – Art Curator**
Kathleen Goncharov’s impact as a curator was immense, with recent contributions as the senior curator at the Boca Raton Museum of Art in Florida. Her illustrious career spanned 40 years, highlighted by her role as the United States Commissioner for the 50th Venice Biennale and her work with the New School Art Collection. Her legacy is marked by a series of memorable exhibitions that have inspired and influenced countless art enthusiasts.
**John Axelrod (1946–2026) – Art Collector and Patron**
A steadfast supporter of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, John Axelrod’s commitment to the art world was reflected in his remarkable collection focused on Black artists and artists of color. His contributions included the donation of approximately 900 works to the museum, cementing his legacy as a champion of diversity and representation within the art community.
**Guillermo Antonio Goñi Motilla (1956–2026) – Mexican Archaeologist**
An esteemed researcher and professor at the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico, Guillermo Antonio Goñi Motilla made significant strides in the understanding of Maya culture and life on the Yucatán Peninsula. His scholarly work continues to influence the fields of history and archaeology.
**Cecilia Giménez (1931–2025) – Spanish Artist Known for “Beast Jesus”**
Cecilia Giménez gained international fame after her unintended restoration of a painting of Jesus in Zaragoza went viral. Despite the initial controversy, her work became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring dialogues about art, restoration, and the nature of global virality.
**Bob Monk (1950–2025) – New York Gallerist**
With a career spanning several decades in the art world, Bob Monk was instrumental in shaping contemporary art discourse, first at Castelli Graphics and later as a director at Gagosian gallery. He worked closely with renowned artists, including Ed Ruscha, thus playing a pivotal role in curating significant art collections.
These individuals leave behind indelible legacies that will continue to resonate within the art world and beyond, inspiring future generations of artists, filmmakers, curators, and historians.