Jane Rankin-Reid
1956 - 2026
In Loving Memory of Jane Rankin Reid
We are bereft to have lost Jane. She has left a great gap - apart from our own individual friendships, she was an abiding ally of Cheerio's generally. She provided us with so many tremendous Frames - in which she remembered times and friends from her extraordinary life. Jane had so many talents - international contemporary art curator, writer, art critic. She spent much of the 80's in downtown New York but for the last decade, was based, glamorously enough, in Tasmania. Latterly, when in England, she would be staying at 19a, where her presence was welcomed by all the Cheerio team - we always think of her with a cup of coffee in her hand - gossiping, laughing, advising, having brilliant ideas.
We are so sad to think that she will no longer be able to finish her memoir, THE COLOUR OF NIGHT - it seems quite extraordinary to write this. We are delighted to report that like all artists - she could at times, be imperious- she would be the first to celebrate such an excellent trait! We have all had such lovely chats and email correspondence with her about art, dogs, the solace of supportive sisters and much else besides. She was fantastically brave - it was always such a surprise to learn about her ongoing health problems - she rarely spoke about them.
Her life was distinguished - she witnessed so many seminal moments in the art world and wrote about them to much acclaim in publications from The Guardian to Le Monde. She is survived by her beloved sister Susan, not only a mensch but a fantastic ally during Jane's recent times of illness. Jane also leaves behind a close family in India, who no doubt, like us, find the world to be a lesser place without her.
We are proud to include her last fantastic frame for us, BALENCIAGA ON MY MIND, here.