In Memoriam: Rafael Ferrer, Aracy Amaral, Liang Shaoji, and Richard Manoogian
The art community is in mourning for four prominent individuals. Rafael Ferrer (1933–2026), a Puerto Rican artist celebrated for his conceptual works featuring paper bag faces, taught at various institutions and earned a Pew Fellowship in 1993. Aracy Amaral (1930–2026), a Brazilian art historian, led significant museums and dedicated her efforts to Brazilian modernism. Liang Shaoji (1945–2026), a Chinese conceptual artist, examined nature through his installations and showcased his work at the Venice Biennale. Richard Manoogian (1936–2026), a distinguished collector of renowned artists, held the title of chairman emeritus at Masco Corporation and was part of the National Gallery of Art's trustee council, with his collection featured in major venues.
Key facts
- Rafael Ferrer (1933–2026) was a Puerto Rican multidisciplinary artist and musician.
- Ferrer's work included sculpture, painting, printmaking, and installation, with motifs like paper bag faces, kayaks, and maps.
- Ferrer taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and School of Visual Arts.
- Aracy Amaral (1930–2026) was a Brazilian art historian and curator who directed Pinacoteca (1975–1979) and the Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of São Paulo (1982–1986).
- Amaral oversaw Tarsila do Amaral's 2008 catalogue raisonné.
- Liang Shaoji (1945–2026) was a Chinese conceptual artist known for Natural Series (1989–2026), featuring miner helmets covered in silk and bamboo filled with wax.
- Liang exhibited at the 1999 Venice Biennale and the 2000 and 2006 Shanghai Biennales.
- Richard Manoogian (1936–2026) was a collector of Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, and Mary Cassatt, and a chairman emeritus at Masco Corporation.
Entities
Artists
- Rafael Ferrer
- Aracy Amaral
- Liang Shaoji
- Richard Manoogian
- Tarsila do Amaral
- Thomas Eakins
- John Singer Sargent
- Mary Cassatt
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
- El Museo del Barrio
- Guild Hall
- University of Pennsylvania
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
- School of Visual Arts
- Pew Fellowship in the Arts
- Annalee and Barnett Newman Foundation
- Pinacoteca
- Museum of Contemporary Art at the University of São Paulo
- Venice Biennale
- Shanghai Biennale
- Masco Corporation
- Beacon Hill
- National Gallery of Art
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Henrique Faria gallery
- Galeria Raquel Arnaud
- Mackinac State Historic Parks
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Maine
- New York
- East Hampton
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Venice
- Italy
- Shanghai
- China
- Washington, DC
- Detroit