An American art influencer known online as Jerry Gogosian was found dead at a five-star hotel in Brazil, where she had traveled for plastic surgery.
Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, a 40-year-old from Oakland, California, was discovered Sunday inside her room at the Rosewood São Paulo after her plastic surgeon reportedly became concerned when she stopped answering calls, according to Art Review.
Authorities reportedly found an empty vodka bottle, broken glass, and unidentified pills in the room. Helphenstein had been staying in São Paulo for nearly three weeks while recovering from a cosmetic procedure.
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Her surgeon allegedly told police he had previously taken her to a hospital following a suspected overdose and claimed she had been using substances. Officials have not released a cause of death, but the case has reportedly been registered as a “suspicious death.”
In a statement to Hyperallergic, a spokesperson for the Rosewood São Paulo said the hotel is fully cooperating with authorities and providing all requested information as the investigation continues.
According to the Daily Mail, Helphenstein revealed in a 2024 Substack post that she had celebrated five years of sobriety. She was also a survivor of Typhus Rickettsia, a severe bacterial infection that reportedly left her bedridden for a year.
Originally from California, Helphenstein created the satirical online persona “Jerry Gogosian” to poke fun at the excess and commercialization of the contemporary art world. She built a large following of more than 150,000 Instagram followers and became known for her sharp commentary on the art industry.
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A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, she also hosted the podcast “Art Smack,” served as editor-in-chief of “The Jerry Report,” and collaborated with major brands and institutions including Phillips, Playboy, and Sotheby’s.
Just hours before her death, Helphenstein shared upbeat Instagram posts about her time in Brazil and offered lighthearted advice to followers.
