In Memoriam | Tony Bechara (1942–2025)

The Parrish Art Museum mourns the loss of a dear friend and celebrated artist, Tony Bechara. A visionary painter, generous collaborator, and vital voice in contemporary abstraction, Tony’s influence was significant, and we will miss his friendship and presence at the Museum.

Tony was featured in Artists Choose Parrish, our 125th anniversary exhibition highlighting artists with deep ties to the East End. His selections—works by Illya Bolotowsky and Leon Polk Smith—reflected his own refined language of geometry, color, and order.

Earlier this year, Tony gifted 19 Reds (2015), shown here, a luminous and meditative canvas, to the Parrish’s permanent collection—an enduring testament to his generosity and his place in our story.

Known for his meticulous grids of color and rhythmic abstraction, Tony’s practice was deeply rooted in art history, inspired by Matisse, Signac, Seurat, and Smith. His work was exhibited in major institutions including the Whitney Biennial, MOCA Los Angeles, and El Museo del Barrio.

We are honored to have known Tony and to hold his work in our collection.

Tony Bechara (Puerto Rican, 1942-2025), 19 Reds, 2015. Acrylic on canvas, 66 x 66 in. Gift of the Artist.