In Waves: Grief and Art — A Personal Essay on Loss, Mary Heilmann, and the Consolation of Painting
In a personal essay released by Glasstire on September 23, 2026, the writer discusses the role of art in coping with personal losses. Following her brother's passing in the summer of 2025, she ceased her artistic endeavors. A journey to New Jersey with her friend Julie included a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, where they viewed Jack Whitten's retrospective, which reignited her passion for creating. The following day, she received the tragic news that her grandfather, Russell Laszczynski, had been struck by a truck in Pittsburgh, leading to his death on July 18, 2025, at the age of 87. The essay portrays Mary Heilmann's artwork as vessels for sorrow. An author's note mentions Heilmann's passing on August 14, 2026, at 86, dedicating the essay to both her and Laszczynski.
Key facts
- The essay was published by Glasstire on September 23, 2026.
- Mary Heilmann died on August 14, 2026, at the age of 86.
- Russell Laszczynski, the author's grandfather, died on July 18, 2025, at age 87.
- Laszczynski was struck by a gravel truck that ran a red light in Pittsburgh while driving to the gym.
- The author saw Jack Whitten's retrospective at MoMA and was first introduced to Whitten's work at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston in 2014.
- Mary Heilmann's exhibition was on view at 303 Gallery in New York City.
- Yayoi Kusama's 1996 "Infinity Dots Mirrored Room" is part of the Mattress Factory's permanent collection in Pittsburgh.
- The author previously saw works by Lynda Benglis in Dallas, Dorothy Hood in Corpus Christi, and Wayne Thiebaud in San Antonio.
Entities
Artists
- Mary Heilmann
- Jack Whitten
- Yayoi Kusama
- Lynda Benglis
- Dorothy Hood
- Wayne Thiebaud
- Frederic Edwin Church
- Barnett Newman
- Robert Indiana
- Julie
- Russell Laszczynski
Institutions
- Glasstire
- Museum of Modern Art
- Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
- 303 Gallery
- Mattress Factory
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Menil Collection
- Art21
Locations
- New York City
- New York
- United States
- New Jersey
- Texas
- Dallas
- Corpus Christi
- San Antonio
- Houston
- Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh
- California