About KWF
Meet the people behind the foundation
We’re a passionate group of advocates united by a mission to amplify the voices shaping the popular arts. Drawing from diverse backgrounds and experiences, our team brings energy, insight, and dedication to building a platform where artists can grow, experiment, and make their mark.
Rene LaFargue
Scott Whitson
Brian Vogelsang
Megan Loughran
Brian Weck
Paul Poppleton
Kevin Michael Workman
1970-2011
Continuing His Legacy of Passion for Art and Technology
Kevin was a Renaissance man in the truest sense.
At a young age, he developed an interest in and tremendous aptitude for technology. This would become the focus of his professional career, most of which he pursued at Qualcomm, where he continually innovated not only the technology but its practical application.
Kevin was awarded a US/WIPO patent for his co-development of the “Replicant” data backup process, sat on the IBM/Lenovo Advisory Council, and influenced the development of numerous products and features in the information technology field.
Kevin enjoyed technology, but above that, he cared about and loved community, art, and the creative experience. He actively pursued interests in music, movies, art, classic literature, high-fantasy and adventure, videography, photography, web development, podcasting, physics, philosophy, metaphysics, the paranormal, popular culture, and most recently, tea - to name only a few.
Kevin loved to make people laugh and had an intense joi de vivre - a love of living that involves one’s whole being.
Kevin understood that life was a precious gift, and that it was too short to be lived without appreciating creativity: He understood the power of art and the deep wells of insight, wonder, and humor it lent to a life well-lived. Kevin wanted everyone to enjoy the art, writing, movies, or nuggets of popular culture he discovered. He’d very often take us by the hand and lead us to that enjoyment personally.
It would start as a phone call in the middle of the night, a cryptic email or text, or our favorite, a conspiring tilt of the head in a conversation with a gleam in his eye. And the invitation:
“Hey, You’ve got to check this out.”
He was a muse, grass-roots publicist, sponsor, and patron to numerous artists, writers, bloggers, and podcasters. His support for popular arts culminated in the “X-Sanguin” Comic-Con booth, which hosted up-and-coming and established artists on the convention dealer’s room floor for several years running. Kevin’s X-Sanguin crew also threw what was arguably the biggest, best, most (in)famous Comic-Con costume party. For a decade, Kevin was the driving force behind a Comic-Con after-hours event that brought together fans, artists, writers, actors, special-effects wizards, industry luminaries, elves, hobbits, vampires, and all sorts of creatures from across the world, Hollywood, distant galaxies, the nether planes, the swanky Cold War past, the Zombie-infested future, and all time periods in between.
Kevin was a larger-than-life supporter of the popular arts, but at the same time, he was the most friendly, down-to-earth, approachable person you could meet.
Kevin brought people of all interests, beliefs, and walks of life together, and he built communities that lasted. He welcomed anyone and everyone as they were, and encouraged them to be their best, most interesting, most creative selves. His enthusiasm and passion were more than just words-- Kevin usually offered his skills and expertise with media hardware and software tools to help bootstrap a creative idea.
While we will never stop missing Kevin, we will remember the way that his joyous support of community and art uplifted the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. We feel that the best way to commemorate our dear friend is to continue his support for aspiring and established creative professionals, his passion for creative technology, and his charismatic nurturing of creative communities. If we can do it with half the style, wit, and charm that Kevin brought, we’ll consider the Foundation a success.
We hope you’ll help support us, and in doing so, find a new spark of fandom or creative passion of your own.