Ryk Burgess

Family-Placed Obituary

Ryk Burgess, a 54-year resident of Honolulu and one of it's leading artists, passed away on June 23, 2007. He was a well-known member of the Honolulu fine art and art-appraisal community. Ryk was born in Los Angeles on July 16, 1930 andattended private schools on the Mainland. He served in the Korean War and was stationed in Japan. Thisexperience heightened his interest in world travel, which became an important part of his life, for many years. In 1953, following his military service, he relocated with his family to Honolulu. He graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Fine Arts and began a decades-long career in oil painting. He called his work "abstract impressionism." His work has been exhibited at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii State Fair,Association of Honolulu Artist Group Shows, St. John' Cathedral Hall in Hong Kong and in Carmel by the Sea galleries. Over the years he had 14 one-man exhibits in Honolulu. His paintings hang in private and corporate collections in Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Europe, Canada and throughout the mainland United States. Early in his local career he was a partner in VeeBee Designs, a Hawaiian-themed greeting card design,manufacturing and marketing company. Later, he owned and operated Gallery B in Honolulu's Kilohana Square, which specialized in Asian antiques, art objects andjewelry and estate appraisals. He was a foundingmember of the Honolulu Antique Dealers Association. He is survived by his brother, Jon Simon of Palos Verdes Estates California. A celebration of Ryk's life, including scattering of the ashes at sea, will be held at a later date. Updated on 07/21/2007.