What artist was a close friend of Richard Feynman?

The artist who was a close friend of Richard Feynman was Jirayr Zorthian.

Zorthian was an Armenian American painter and a colorful bohemian figure who lived and worked at his ranch in Altadena, California. He and Feynman met at a party where Feynman played bongos. Their friendship grew from a shared curiosity: Zorthian tried to learn physics from Feynman, while Feynman explored art under Zorthian’s influence.

Zorthian’s artistic guidance helped inspire Feynman to take up drawing, a hobby he continued throughout his life. Their unusual exchange is described in Feynman’s memoir Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, making the friendship more than a passing social connection.

Zorthian’s ranch became a gathering place for artists, musicians, scientists, and other unconventional guests. He was also associated with figures such as jazz musician Charlie Parker and artist Andy Warhol. The commonly offered alternatives—Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso—were famous artists, but Zorthian is the documented friend specifically linked to Feynman.