Cy Twombly dies at 83

Art history is littered with overlooked geniuses -- one rescued posthumously from the trash heap is our own Kathleen Munn, now on display at the AGO -- but the modern poster-child for this status could well be Cy Twombly, who died this week. Twombly, thankfully, was recognized in his own lifetime, however late; in the 1995, he received a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (to mixed reviews), which jump-started both a recognition of his work and a productive late-phase of his career. Twombly resistance to major movements like Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism at times left him on the margins, but in time, allowed him to be recognized for his unique talents. He was one of those few painters bold -- or stubborn -- enough to go his own way, regardless of the currents of fashion or trend, despite the cost to his career. We need more like him.

Comments

[Albin]

He couldn't succeed on his own terms among his peers because, right or wrong, Clement Greenberg didn't like his stuff. The first (certainly not the last) question to ask about AEx is "What would Clement do?"