fastplotlib
diff --git a/‎fastplotlib/graphics/_base.py
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: fastplotlib/graphics/_base.py
+17-8Lines changed: 17 additions & 8 deletions b/‎fastplotlib/graphics/_base.py
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: fastplotlib/graphics/_base.py
+17-8Lines changed: 17 additions & 8 deletions
diff --git a/‎fastplotlib/graphics/image.py
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+3-1Lines changed: 3 additions & 1 deletion b/‎fastplotlib/graphics/image.py
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: fastplotlib/graphics/image.py
+3-1Lines changed: 3 additions & 1 deletion
diff --git a/‎fastplotlib/layouts/_base.py
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: fastplotlib/layouts/_base.py
+38-3Lines changed: 38 additions & 3 deletions b/‎fastplotlib/layouts/_base.py
Copy file name to clipboardExpand all lines: fastplotlib/layouts/_base.py
+38-3Lines changed: 38 additions & 3 deletions
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from typing import *
+import weakref
 from warnings import warn
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -14,6 +15,11 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 
+# dict that holds all world objects for a given python kernel/session
+# Graphic objects only use proxies to WorldObjects
+WORLD_OBJECTS: Dict[str, WorldObject] = dict()  #: {hex id str: WorldObject}
+
+
 PYGFX_EVENTS = [
     "key_down",
     "key_up",
@@ -58,10 +64,15 @@ def __init__(
         self.registered_callbacks = dict()
         self.present = PresentFeature(parent=self)
 
+        self._world_objects = WORLD_OBJECTS
+
     @property
     def world_object(self) -> WorldObject:
-        """Associated pygfx WorldObject."""
-        return self._world_object
+        """Associated pygfx WorldObject. Always returns a proxy, real object cannot be accessed directly."""
+        return weakref.proxy(self._world_objects[hex(id(self))])
+
+    def _set_world_object(self, wo: WorldObject):
+        self._world_objects[hex(id(self))] = wo
 
     @property
     def position(self) -> Vector3:
@@ -75,7 +86,7 @@ def visible(self) -> bool:
         return self.world_object.visible
 
     @visible.setter
-    def visible(self, v) -> bool:
+    def visible(self, v: bool):
         """Access or change the visibility."""
         self.world_object.visible = v
 
@@ -100,6 +111,9 @@ def __repr__(self):
         else:
             return rval
 
+    def __del__(self):
+        del self._world_objects[hex(id(self))]
+
 
 class Interaction(ABC):
     """Mixin class that makes graphics interactive"""
@@ -271,11 +285,6 @@ def __init__(self, name: str = None):
         super(GraphicCollection, self).__init__(name)
         self._graphics: List[Graphic] = list()
 
-    @property
-    def world_object(self) -> Group:
-        """Returns the underling pygfx WorldObject."""
-        return self._world_object
-
     @property
     def graphics(self) -> Tuple[Graphic]:
         """returns the Graphics within this collection"""
 
@@ -100,11 +100,13 @@ def __init__(
             self.cmap = ImageCmapFeature(self, cmap)
             material = pygfx.ImageBasicMaterial(clim=(vmin, vmax), map=self.cmap())
 
-        self._world_object: pygfx.Image = pygfx.Image(
+        world_object = pygfx.Image(
             geometry,
             material
         )
 
+        self._set_world_object(world_object)
+
         self.data = ImageDataFeature(self, data)
         # TODO: we need to organize and do this better
         if isolated_buffer:
 
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     Viewport, WgpuRenderer
 from wgpu.gui.auto import WgpuCanvas
 from warnings import warn
-from ..graphics._base import Graphic
+from ..graphics._base import Graphic, WORLD_OBJECTS
 from ..graphics.line_slider import LineSlider
 from typing import *
 
@@ -287,17 +287,52 @@ def auto_scale(self, maintain_aspect: bool = False, zoom: float = 0.8):
 
     def remove_graphic(self, graphic: Graphic):
         """
-        Remove a graphic from the scene. Note: This does not garbage collect the graphic,
-        you can add it back to the scene after removing it.
+        Remove a ``Graphic`` from the scene. Note: This does not garbage collect the graphic,
+        you can add it back to the scene after removing it. Use ``delete_graphic()`` to
+        delete and garbage collect a ``Graphic``.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         graphic: Graphic or GraphicCollection
             The graphic to remove from the scene
 
         """
+
         self.scene.remove(graphic.world_object)
 
+    def delete_graphic(self, graphic: Graphic):
+        """
+        Delete the graphic, garbage collects and frees GPU VRAM.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        graphic: Graphic or GraphicCollection
+            The graphic to delete
+
+        """
+
+        if graphic not in self._graphics:
+            raise KeyError
+
+        if graphic.world_object in self.scene.children:
+            self.scene.remove(graphic.world_object)
+
+        self._graphics.remove(graphic)
+
+        # delete associated world object to free GPU VRAM
+        loc = hex(id(graphic))
+        del WORLD_OBJECTS[loc]
+
+        del graphic
+
+    def clear(self):
+        """
+        Clear the Plot or Subplot. Also performs garbage collection, i.e. runs ``delete_graphic`` on all graphics.
+        """
+
+        for g in self._graphics:
+            self.delete_graphic(g)
+
     def __getitem__(self, name: str):
         for graphic in self._graphics:
             if graphic.name == name: