Anyone who spends time in Tasmania's capital is almost sure to come across a Tom Samek artwork.
The artist is being remembered for his "quirky, witty and engaging" contributions to Hobart's art scene, his "wonderful sense of humour" and compassion.
Samek died last week, aged 71, after battling a chronic illness.
He was behind some of Tasmania's most well-known art works, including the floor mural Flawed History of Tasmanian Wine at Meadowbank Estate.
His large-scale pieces around Hobart include a mural in the foyer of the RACT building and two murals at the University of Tasmania's Engineering School at Sandy Bay.
Samek was born in Prague, in the Czech Republic, and moved to Tasmania in the 1970s at the age of 21.
Ms Curtis said he was initially concentrating on being a chef, but had a passion for life, love, sex, food and wine.
"So he took his love for food and wine and he developed it into art … Initially a lot of his work was print making and these were very well known and gave him early renown," she said.
Former and current politicians also shared memories and paid tribute to the man they said was one of the state's best known and celebrated artists.
"Tom Samek's unique style imbued humour and whimsy into his visual reflections on everyday life," Arts Minister Elise Archer said.
Ms Archer said Samek was incredibly generous, "donating many of his artworks and his own culinary talent for auction, for the benefit of many local charities".
Former Tasmanian premier David Bartlett also paid tribute.
Samek was represented by Hobart's Handmark Gallery.
"Tom's brilliant mind, his insight, wit, sense of humour, his love of food, wine, music — indeed his love of life in abundance played — out in his art," the gallery team said in a statement.
"We his friends and the public at large revel in his murals, mosaics, woodwork, sculptures, public art installations and on a smaller scale his prints, etchings and of course, the annual calendar.
"These bring a smile to our face each and every day and will continue to do so.
