Gallery tribute to artist killed in Oakland fire

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A Bay Area artist who was killed in a fire is being remembered for his impact on the lives of loved ones and the work he created.

Daniel "Moe" Thomas and videographer Davis Letona were killed last weekend when a fire tore through their Oakland apartment.

Friends, family and former co-workers all gathered at the McLoughlin Gallery in San Francisco surrounded by the few remaining pieces of his art.

Each piece has a story. One titled "Grandmother" features rose petals and dirt from his grandmother's garden. She raised him and his aunt says this sculpture was his tribute to her.

Friends described "Moe" as unique, introspective and deeply creative. He would gather objects while traveling or visiting local secondhand shops, then weave them together to create new pieces.

Sadly, most of his work disappeared in the fire.

At the gallery, people grieved not only because they lost "Moe" but because the fire robbed the Bay Area art community of an artist with incredible potential.

"I think it's an incredible loss simply for what could have been. I think that although he was in an emerging state of his career, he had a lot of really important significant things to say about the art community," said Monique Delaunay.

"He's touched everybody in some way, somehow. One gentleman this morning called him a fixture of Oakland and I think that pretty much wraps it up," said his aunt Alice Thompson.

"Moe" also served as a waiter at a number of Bay Area restaurants. Many of his former co-workers stopped by to pay tribute.

There will be another celebration of his life at Classic Cars in Oakland on Sunday.