Carla Munsat, 1938-2026, icon in the New England artist community

Carla Anne Munsat (Hoffman) of Waltham passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2026, at home surrounded by her family after a short illness.

Munsat was a vibrant, creative artist; co-founder of Art New England magazine; a lifelong scholar and a woman whose generosity, humor and grace touched those who knew her, according to family and friends.

“Carla was very influenced by color, movement and nature. She was very adventuresome in her work, and she was in her life as well,” said long-time friend and fellow artist Marilyn Levin. “People were attracted to her because of her talent, warmth and positivity.”

Born in 1938 in Los Angeles, Munsat grew up with her sister Beth and her parents Ruth and Joe Hoffman, whose passion for politics and film shaped her curiosity about the world. She studied fine arts at UCLA with acclaimed artist Richard Diebenkorn before heading to New York City to study acting where she met her husband, Ted Munsat. Soon after meeting, they married and moved back to Los Angeles where she acted, painted and taught art.

In the mid 1970s, after settling in Newton and then later in Waltham, she recognized the need to raise the visibility for the vibrant local arts community. Munsat co-founded Art New England magazine with fellow artist Stephanie Adelman. Two years later, they started the Art New England Summer Workshops at Bennington College, which continue to this day under Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Munsat served as co-founder, co-publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine for more than two decades.

“When Carla started Art New England it was a significant moment for the Boston area. It was a much-needed publication that covered gallery shows and features on local artists. It was very much appreciated by the whole art community,” Levin said.

Munsat stayed active in the art world, and showed her recent paintings in an exhibit in June 2025 at the Bromfield Gallery in Boston.

“Carla was a wonderful, sparkly woman full of beauty on the inside and it just radiated out of her,” said Jennifer Day, a fellow member of the Bromfield Gallery. “Over the last few months, we talked on the phone often about how she was feeling. I’m forever grateful she shared that time with me.”

Munsat and her husband moved to Cronin’s Landing in Waltham 14 years ago. Her art studio was at Lincoln Studios on Moody Street and she walked almost every day along the Charles River. She was engaged in the community from the start, her family said.

“My mom had a wonderful spirit. I think what encapsulates it is that three years ago, at 84, my mom went riding on horseback for the first time in maybe 30 years because she was with family and the opportunity presented itself. It was almost effortless for her to decide to do it. She was the most energetic and enthusiastic person I’d ever met,” her daughter Amy said.

Munsat is survived by her children Amy (Harry) and Peter (Lisa); grandchildren Lucy, Jesse, Alex, Jake, Hallie, Lila (Zach) and great-grandson Louie; her sister Beth (Koonan); numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and dear friends.

Carla Munsat is predeceased by her husband and fellow adventurer Ted.

In her honor, a donation can be made to the ACLU Foundation or to Artists for Humanity, Boston.