Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025

see you later, gary

By Patricia Belyea

SEATTLE, WA :: Saying goodbye always feels so final. But, is an ending ever truly final? We each carry our own sense of what death means, and how the story continues.

Yesterday, my brother-in-law Gary Faigin left this life.

Many knew Gary as an accomplished American painter. Others knew him as the co-founder of Gage Academy of Art. Some knew him through his groundbreaking book on facial expressions for artists. Others knew him as an art critic for the local paper, or as a guide leading tours to the great art capitals of Europe.

Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025

To me, Gary was family. He married my twin sister, and for more than three decades our two families lived just two blocks apart in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. We were neighbors, companions, and friends.

The art world has lost a rare talent and a generous leader. I have lost a kindred spirit and a beloved family member.

If you stepped into his painting studio today, you’d find his latest works—surreal visions of houses sited in celestial landscapes. His imagination soared, and he had the rare ability to transform those ideas into deeply compelling compositions.

Just as powerful as Gary’s visuals, were the concepts behind his painting series. Recently Gary has been challenging the meaning of home as we move into the future.

I love you, Gary. And, I'll see you at your new place!

Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025Gary Faigin Studio, Seattle WA, September 2025
Gary is represented by the Harris/Harvey Gallery in Seattle. To see more of his work +click here
BELOW: Gary painting plein air at my home in the Okanogan Highlands — July 2023
Gary Faigin painting plein art in the Okanogan Highlands, July 2023

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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria host in-person and online creative quilting experiences, and lead textile tours to Japan.

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