Honoring the Lives and Contributions of Calvin Tompkins, Rhoda Roberts, and Agosto Machado

**In Memoriam: Honoring Legends of the Art World**

The art world recently bid farewell to a diverse group of influential figures whose legacies will continue to inspire future generations. This tribute honors their contributions and the lasting impact they made in their respective fields.

**Calvin Tomkins (1925–2026)**
Celebrated art writer Calvin Tomkins shaped the landscape of art journalism with his elegant profiles in *The New Yorker*. Known for his precise and jargon-free writing style, he chronicled the lives of iconic artists like Marcel Duchamp and Robert Rauschenberg. His comprehensive works include *Living Well Is the Best Revenge* and *The Lives of Artists*.

**Brad Bucher (1942–2026)**
Art collector and patron Brad Bucher, with his wife Leslie, significantly impacted the Houston arts scene. Their support extended to a bespoke art space and an artist-in-residence program at Rice University, contributing to institutions like the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.

**Philip Castle (1942–2026)**
British airbrush artist Philip Castle created some of the most iconic visual art, including the poster for *A Clockwork Orange* and the cover of David Bowie’s *Aladdin Sane*.

**Thomas Gentille (1936–2026)**
Known for his conceptual jewelry pieces, master jeweler Thomas Gentille used unconventional materials to craft works reminiscent of Minimalist art, exhibited at prominent museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

**Charlotte Gere (1937–2026)**
Art historian Charlotte Gere authored over 20 books on various art history subjects. Alongside her husband John Gere, she collected 18th- and 19th-century landscape oil sketches.

**Robert L. “Larry” Godwin (1934–2026)**
Alabama sculptor Robert L. “Larry” Godwin blended engineering and art, creating beloved public artworks like “Rusty” the red dog at the Kentuck Art Center and acclaimed abstract compositions.

**Sam Kieth (1963–2026)**
Comic artist Sam Kieth, known for series like *The Maxx* and contributions to *The Sandman*, also directed popular animated shows, showcasing his diverse talents in visual storytelling.

**Carol Kitman (1930–2026)**
Photographer Carol Kitman documented the lives of twins Alexander and Eugene Vindman over decades, capturing key historical moments, including their testimony against President Trump.

**Swietlan Nicholas Kraczyna (1940–2026)**
Artist and educator Swietlan Nicholas Kraczyna famously documented the 1966 Florence flood and contributed to the development of printmaking education, sharing his expertise globally.

**Agosto Machado (d. 2026)**
A cornerstone of NYC’s downtown art scene in the 1960s, Agosto Machado was an influential performance artist and activist, participating in the Stonewall uprising and supporting artists during the AIDS crisis.

**Egidio Marzona (1944–2026)**
German-Italian art collector Egidio Marzona shaped avant-garde 20th-century art studies through his vast collections, generously donating them to museums and libraries across Germany.

**Rhoda Roberts (1959–2026)**
Australian arts administrator Rhoda Roberts propelled First Nations art onto the world stage, curating the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony and cofounding the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust.

**Marica Vilcek (1936–2026)**
Art historian and philanthropist Marica Vilcek championed arts and biomedical research funding through the Vilcek Foundation, amassing significant collections, including Pre-Columbian art.

**Desmond Williams (1932–2026)**
Architect Desmond Williams was a key figure of the Catholic Modernist movement, designing over 20 modernist churches and leaving a lasting architectural legacy.

These revered individuals leave behind a rich tapestry of artistic achievement and cultural contributions, each having profoundly shaped the world of art in their unique ways.