Watching the BBC News this morning, they showed a programme listing all the famous people who passed over in 2011, however the only artist i.e. painter, they mentioned was Lucien Freud. In 2011 there were a number of notable passings in the art world which should not be forgotten.
The California Minimalist John McCracken (b. 1934), died aged 76 years
One of the Beaux Arts quartet Jack Smith (b. 1928), died aged 82 years
Conceptual and Land Art artist Dennis Oppenheim (b. 1938), died aged 83 years
Abstract Expressionist John Hoyland (b. 1934), died aged 76 years
Sculptor Stephen De Staebler (b. 1933), died aged 78 years
Surrealist painter and novelist, Leonora Carrington, died aged 94 years
Colour Field Abstract Expressionist Helen Frankenthaler (b. 1928), died aged 83 years
Pop Art artist Richard Hamilton (b. 1922), died aged 89 years
Sculptor John Chamberlain (b. 1927), died aged 84 years
Realist artist Claudio Bravo (b. 1937), died aged 74 years
A very sad loss for me personally was the departure of the legendary Cy Twombly (b. 1928), died aged 83 years, whose work I love,
and of course, not forgetting the very sad departure of Lucian Freud (b. 1922), died aged 88 years, best known for his thickly painted portraits of the contemporary nude and the best painting of The Queen ever painted.
There may be more, less well known artists to add to the list, but each and everyone will have contributed in their own creative way to the most amazing of all artistic genres – the visual arts, and with all the artists listed above living well into their 70’s or 80’s (even 90’s) it can only prove that art really is good for you! R.I.P
Steffi's ART Blog 