The Artist Lives Gallery

10/20/2026

Susanne Okamoto

1942–2025

Born in Glenside, Pennsylvania, Susanne was a gifted painter whose work reflected her deep appreciation for beauty, nature, spirituality, and Japanese artistic traditions. Working in oils and watercolors, she created vibrant paintings filled with color, movement, and imagination.

An active member of Philadelphia's artistic community, Susanne was a founding member of ArtForms Gallery in Manayunk and a former director of the Muse Gallery in Philadelphia. She maintained her own studio for many years and shared her passion for art through more than four decades of teaching.

Among her most significant works was The Genesis Altarpiece, an intricate watercolor triptych inspired by the biblical story of creation and imagery from other cultures. Her paintings reflected what she described as an "unabashed interest in beauty," expressed through her skillful use of composition, line, and color.

10/12/2026

“I hope other kids feel happy when they read my books and also want to write their own stories one day.”

**Tlotlo Tsheka**
2019–2026

Tlotlo was just seven years old when she passed away, but the young South African had already written and illustrated three books.

She began creating stories at the age of five, finding inspiration in her family and her imagination. Her published books included I Remember When..., Mommy's Secret, and Brown Skinned Girls with Peach Mothers. She had even completed a fourth manuscript, The Magic Eye, before her death.

Tlotlo also loved encouraging other children to read and write, at an age when most children are just beginning to discover books.

It's heartbreaking to think of all the stories Tlotlo never had the chance to tell. But in her seven short years, she created something that will remain long after her passing.

09/25/2026

KAREN GAHLON SHIMAN
1951–2022

Karen spent decades creating art, quietly and largely unseen.

A painter, sculptor and mixed-media artist, Karen worked across watercolor, pastel, woodcut, papier-mâché and other mediums. Over the course of her life, she created more than 2,000 works.

Yet despite the extraordinary volume of work she left behind, Karen never publicly exhibited her art during her lifetime.

Art was a constant presence in her life, even as she built a career far outside the art world. She worked in finance and became a vice president and member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, while continuing to create privately.

After Karen passed in 2022, her son was left with an enormous collection of work that few people had ever seen. Rather than allow it to remain hidden, he began the process of preserving and sharing it.

In 2026, four years after her death, Karen’s work was brought together for a retrospective exhibition at the Decatur Area Arts Council, allowing the public to experience the art she had spent a lifetime creating.

Karen’s story is a reminder of how much art exists beyond museums and galleries.

09/19/2026

Jon Gailmor
1948–2025

“My reason for being is music.”

For more than five decades, singer-songwriter and educator Jon Gailmor used music to bring people together.

A beloved figure in Vermont, Jon was a performer, recording artist and passionate teacher who brought songwriting into classrooms and helped generations of children discover their own creativity.

His music carried humor, heart, optimism and a deep belief in human connection.

Jon once said, “I like to think that what I brought to Vermont will absolutely be carried on by others.”

And it will.

His songs remain. The people he inspired remain. And the creativity he encouraged in countless others continues.

**Discover his music.**
**Remember his name.**
**Keep his legacy alive.**

07/24/2026

We're grateful to see our mission is reaching families in the UK!

04/08/2026

JoeSam.

1938 - 6/1/2024

JoeSam. was a multimedia visionary artist and advocate whose work honored the often overlooked histories and contributions of Black Americans. Through powerful series like Black West, Black Bible, and Jazz, he brought these stories to life while also pushing for greater access and representation for Black artists. His legacy lives on not only in his work, but in the artists he supported and the space he helped create for others to be seen.

03/20/2026

Hi everyone,

The Artist Lives was recently accepted into the Mockingbird nonprofit incubator program (20 out of 300 nonprofits). As part of the program we launched a small crowdfunding campaign that the program will match once we reach our goal $1,000 goal.

Donations can also be made in memory or in honor of someone.

If you feel moved to support or if you could simply share the link it would mean a lot.

Creative work shouldn't disappear when someone dies. The Artist Lives preserves and showcases the art, music, and writing people leave behind so their creative voices can continue to be seen, heard, and remembered.

03/19/2026

Tina Keane

2/13/1968 – 12/31/2025

Some artists leave behind more than music. Tina left behind a voice that deserves to be heard.
A New York guitarist, songwriter, and singer, Tina found her place on stage and in the music she created. She played throughout the city with bands like Yellowfin, Oh Mr. Grant, and Siren Song, connecting with audiences through her sound, her energy, and her love of music.
As the lead guitarist and songwriter for Yellowfin, she helped create a sound that was both powerful and deeply melodic, leaving a lasting impression on those who heard her play.
Music was never just something Tina did, it was part of who she was. She wrote, performed, and recorded with passion, always evolving, always creating.
To those who knew and loved her, she will always be a rock star.
To hear Tina’s music, please visit her artist page on our website.

03/09/2026

Singer-songwriter Julius Trombino, whose music we feature on The Artist Lives website, passed away in 2016 three days before his 23rd birthday. His mother, Sandi, has taken the songs he left behind and turned them into a stage musical called Love More. Auditions are now underway for performers who want to help bring Julius’s music and story to life. It's a beautiful example of how an artist's work can continue to live on long after they're gone.
Audition details and information about the musical can be found here:

https://www.lovemoreforjulius.org/love-more-the-musical

01/10/2026

Renée Nicole Macklin Good
1988 – 2026
Renée was a poet and musician whose creativity was central to who she was. She studied English/creative writing and earned recognition for her poetry, including winning the 2020 Academy of American Poets University & College Poetry Prize at Old Dominion University. On 1/7/2026, Renée became the center of a national controversy. But before anything else, she was a poet, musician, and mother of three.

Here is an excerpt from one of her poems:

“all my understanding dribbles down the chin onto the chest & is summarized as:
life is merely
to o**m and s***m
and where those two meet
and how often and how well
and what dies there.”