Remembering Pearl Fryar, Siri Aurdal, and Frank Stack
This week, we honor a self-taught topiary artist, a mainstay of ’60s Scandinavian art, and author of what may be the first underground comic.
Editor's Note: The following story contains mentions of self-harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
In Memoriam is published every Wednesday afternoon and honors those we recently lost in the art world.
Pearl Fryar (1939–2026)
The "Picasso of Plants"
The self-taught artist transformed a cornfield in South Carolina into a renowned garden and an American landmark. In his free time after a full-time manufacturing job, Fryar rescued plants, searched compost piles, and often worked past midnight sculpting soaring, twisting, and intricate topiaries. His garden is open to the public, and in the last few years, has been stewarded by donations and volunteers. He championed love, peace, and goodwill.
Celeste Dupuy-Spencer (1979–2026)
Painter who stood up to injustice
In her paintings and her advocacy, she confronted and deconstructed violent moments in contemporary politics, including the January 6 insurrection and Israel's violence against Palestinians. Her paintings have been shown in the Whitney Biennial and the Hammer Museum's Made in LA biennial.
Andrey Akuzin (1973–2026)
Russian artist
He was a major figure in the art scene of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia. He died by suicide in detention after his arrest, allegedly over a social media comment in support of the left-wing nationalist opposition group Artpodgotovka, which had been banned by the Russian government.
Siri Aurdal (1937–2026)
Norwegian painter and sculptor
She used industrial materials such as fiberglass and Plexiglas to make massive yet delicate sculptures that promote social engagement. She was a mainstay of the 1960s Scandinavian art scene as part of the artist group GRAS, and she was one of six artists in the Nordic Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale.
Hilde Limondjian (1936–2026)
Met Museum's concerts and lectures director
Over four decades, she brought music to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, programming more than 9,000 events as its director of concert and lecture series. She brought in and cultivated artists and musicians like Philip Glass and Patti Smith.
Hal Marcus (1951–2026)
El Paso artist, gallerist, and book illustrator
His pop and surrealism-inflected paintings drew upon life in the border region between El Paso and Juárez, Mexico. For 30 years, he operated the Hal Marcus Gallery, selling the works of local artists, many of whom he mentored.
Frank Stack (1937–2026)
Artist, educator, and underground cartoonist
Under the pseudonym Foolbert Sturgeon, he created satirical comics that touched upon religion and philosophy, including "The Adventures of Jesus," which many consider to be the first underground comic. He taught art at the University of Missouri for nearly four decades, between 1963 and 2001.
Rosemary Tracy Woods (d. 2026)
Passionate advocate for art and social justice
A central figure in the art community of Springfield, Massachusetts, she founded Art for the Soul Gallery, a nonprofit that platformed Black, Indigenous, disabled, and other marginalized artists.
