1964 – 2026
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our friend and fellow artist, Scott Goodwillie, a remarkable painter, a generous spirit, and a truly original human being, who was warm, gentle and sweet.
Scott arrived in New York City in 1992 with a vision that was entirely his own. Drawing deep inspiration from Joseph Campbell’s writings on mythology and the ancient temple carvings of Khajuraho, India, he spent more than two decades creating figurative paintings of uncommon beauty and daring. He created vivid dreamscapes that brought gods and goddesses down from the heavens and placed them squarely in the textures of human experience, with humor, tenderness, and no small amount of mystery.
His paintings, with titles like Nicomis, Shakti, Lilith, To Silence the Sky, Downward Spiral, Diana, and so many others — live at the intersection of magical realism and the erotic sublime. They were never shy about the body, never apologetic about desire, and always unmistakably his. His work found its way into the collections of the National Arts Club in New York, the Seven Bridges Foundation, Playboy Enterprises, and the homes of admirers around the world. In 2004, the Frye Art Museum in Seattle honored him with a mid-career retrospective, a milestone well earned.
For those of us who found his work through The Great Nude, the platform founded by his longtime friend and fellow artist Jeffrey Wiener, Scott was a touchstone — one of those painters who reminded you why figurative art still matters, why the human form still has something urgent to say. Their friendship over the past two decades helped bring Scott’s provocative, exquisitely crafted erotic work to a wider audience that embraced it fully.
For those of you who had the opportunity to know Scott, to experience his zany moods and wacky creative spirit, he will surely be missed the most. He added so much color and energy into the space he occupied. And that HAIR!!! We all loved his Rock & Roller mane.
Scott, you made the gods feel human, and the human feel divine. We will carry your memory in our hearts forever.
Rest well.
Artist Statement:
In my works I am often dealing with myth as subject matter, I have since an early age been influenced by the writings of Joseph Campbell and the stories themselves. For me, myth does not stop with our cultural archives, but can evolve new meanings with sufficient imagination. Specifically compelling to me are the temple carvings of Khajuraho, India, in which the deities are involved in an erotic tangle – so diametrically opposed to Western norms – that it has become a rich source of inspiration for me. My personal take on these ideas is to bring these gods down to a human level in which being a deity is simply a day job, and their home life may be mundane, perhaps not so different from our own.
These beings that populate my works are created from my imagination as well as the people who have coursed through my life. I am often melding these personalities. They are unique and real, flesh and bone. And the experience of building their bodies is a very sensual, almost erotic process that can be very intimate. I also find the body sufficiently expressive on it’s own.
I have been exhibiting throughout the U.S. for more than 20 years and had a mid career retrospective at the Frye Art Museum, Seattle in 2004. Working in a blend of classical style merged with Tibetan and Hindu myth, the work has been sought out by adventurous collectors worldwide.
Artst Resume
Born: Warren, MI 1964
• Education
• 1995-96 Private Atelier, Michael Aviano, NYC
• 1994: Scholarship – Art Students League, NYC
Solo Exhibitions
• 2013: Tazza Gallery, NY, NY
• 2009: Marni Muir Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2005: Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2004: Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA – mid career retrospective
• 2001: National Arts Club, New York, NY
Group Exhibitions: (Partial List)
• 2016: Deborah Zafman Gallery, Montclair, NJ
• 2012: Bling, Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY
• 2011: Decadence, Evoke Contemporary, Santa Fe , NM
• 2010: The Great Nude Invitational, New York, NY
• 2009: ‘Only the Truth’ Marni Muir Gallery, Seattle WA
• 2008: Atlanta Art Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
• 2008-2003: Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2007: RAM Miami, Miami, FL
• 2007: Atlanta Art Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
• 2006: ‘Talent’ Allan Stone Gallery, New York, New York
• 2003-1998: Realism Show, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
• 2003: Realism Invitational, Klaudia Marr Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• 2001: J. Cacciola Gallery, New York, NY20000-2003: Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
• 2000-2003: Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York, NY
• 2000: Charles More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
• 1999: “Representing Representation” Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY
• 1999: John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
• 1998: Rare Art Gallery. New York, NY
Selected Collections
• New York Wildlife Society
• National Arts Club NYC
• Playboy Enterprises, Chicago, IL
• Seven Bridges Foundation, Greenwich, CT
• Joel and Lynn Brown, Houston, TX
• Mr. Ronald Schlicher, U.S. Ambassador
• Mr. Howard Foote, NYC
• Mr. & Mrs. Greg Mount, NYC
• Mr. Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, NM
• Mr. Anthony Broy, Miami, FL
• The Citadelle Art Foundation
Reviews
• 2011: American Art Collector Magazine
• 2009: Art Culture, Reluctant Gods
• 2008: Fine Art Connoisseur , April, Anna Truxes
• 2008: Birmingham Free Press
• 2007: Artnet Magazine, Miami Mayhem, Miami, FL
• 2007: Gallery and Studio Magazine
• 2005: Key West Journal, FL
• 2004: American Art Review
• 2004: Seattle Weekly, Seattle, WA
• 2004: King County Journal (Thought Provoking Paintings at the Frye), Seattle, WA
• 2004: Seattle P.I. .com (Fun House Figurative Paintings at the Frye), Seattle, WA
• 2003: Realism essay, Paul Karlstrom – San Francisco Art Critic
• 2000: Philadelphia Inquirer, ( Narratives and Icons), Philadelphia, PA
• 2000: Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia, PA
• 2000: American Artist Magazine
• 1999: Directors Letter – Arnot Art Museum
• 2000-2003: Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA
• 2000-2003: Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York, NY
• 2000: Charles More Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
• 1999: “Representing Representation” Arnot Art Museum, Elmira, NY
• 1999: John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
• 1998: Rare Art Gallery. New York, NY
Selected Collections
• New York Wildlife Society
• National Arts Club NYC
• Playboy Enterprises, Chicago, IL
• Seven Bridges Foundation, Greenwich, CT
• Joel and Lynn Brown, Houston, TX
• Mr. Ronald Schlicher, U.S. Ambassador
• Mr. Howard Foote, NYC
• Mr. & Mrs. Greg Mount, NYC
• Mr. Sandy Besser, Santa Fe, NM
• Mr. Anthony Broy, Miami, FL
• The Citadelle Art Foundation
Reviews
• 2011: American Art Collector Magazine
• 2009: Art Culture, Reluctant Gods
• 2008: Fine Art Connoisseur , April, Anna Truxes
• 2008: Birmingham Free Press
• 2007: Artnet Magazine, Miami Mayhem, Miami, FL
• 2007: Gallery and Studio Magazine
• 2005: Key West Journal, FL
• 2004: American Art Review
• 2004: Seattle Weekly, Seattle, WA
• 2004: King County Journal (Thought Provoking Paintings at the Frye), Seattle WA
• 2004: Seattle P.I. .com (Fun House Figurative Paintings at the Frye)
• 2003: Realism essay, Paul Karlstrom – San Francisco Art Critic
• 2000: Philadelphia Inquirer, ( Narratives and Icons), Philadelphia, PA
• 2000: Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia, PA
• 2000: American Artist Magazine
• 1999: Directors Letter – Arnot Art Museum