Remembering Marijke De Roover, Sliman Mansour, and Fabrizio Plessi
This week, we honor a feminist Belgian performance artist, an icon of Palestinian liberation, and an Italian video art pioneer.
On Wednesday, In Memoriam honored three notable figures from the art world who passed away in 2026. Belgian performance artist Marijke De Roover (1990–2026) drew inspiration from queer and feminist theories in her work, which tackled themes of love, social hierarchies, and institutional power. She employed references to karaoke, Disney movies, and memes in her performances, which were displayed at prestigious institutions such as the Centre Pompidou and the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens.
Upstream Gallery founder Nieck de Bruijn praised De Roover's unique position in the field, noting that she brought important issues about love, relationships, feminism, and heteronormativity into the spotlight with great humor.
Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour (1947–2026) was another honoree, known for his steadfast commitment to human rights despite facing imprisonment, beatings, and threats from the Israeli government. His work, particularly the iconic painting "Camel of Hardships" (1973), depicted an elderly Palestinian man bearing the weight of the city of Jerusalem on his back, symbolizing the struggle for liberation. Mansour's paintings continue to serve as powerful symbols of the Palestinian cause.
Margaret Barwick (1931–2026) rounded out the trio of honorees, having made significant contributions to the Cayman Islands' visual arts community. As an artist, landscape designer, and arts administrator, she played a crucial role in shaping some of the Cayman Islands' most renowned gardens. Barwick chaired the Visual Arts Society from 1979–80 and oversaw the territory's first entry into the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA IV) in Barbados in 1981.
Written by urgent.news from Hyperallergic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
