In Memoriam: Cy Twombly
by habituallychic
07 . 06 . 11
Artist Edwin Parker “Cy” Twombly passed away Tuesday at the age of 83 in Rome. I feel like people either loved or hated his work. While some people saw beauty in his compositions, other saw childish scribbles. I personally loved his work and meeting him in Rome was on high my bucket list for life experiences. As a tribute, I’m reposting photos from his studio taken in the 1960’s. He lived his life to the beat of his own drum and did what he loved everyday. We should all be so lucky.
“My line is childlike but not childish. It is very difficult to fake…to get that quality you need to project yourself into the child’s line. It has to be felt.”
– Cy Twombly (1928 – 2011)
12 Comments
Beautiful post, about an extraordinary artist. I liked him too. He was his own person, not trying to fit into any artist mold. He will be missed greatly.
He’s not one I have followed, but I LOVE the apartment. I always enjoy one who follows his own path.
Please stop by the market for some Fraises des bois later.
ebh
A true artist is true to himself. A great artist makes it look easy.
Ty was just that. Godspeed.
thank you for doing this post. we lost a master.
i love his work, too. lovely post (did you actually meet him?).
I actually thought of this fabulous apartment when I wrote yesterday’s comment about pictures-on-the-floor-leaning-against-the-wall decorating. This is the rare example of where it worked. These images have been very influential, and deservedly so.
wow! what really struck me was the “freshness” of these “old” pics. There was nothing in any of them which told me that they couldn’t have been taken last week, including his very cool linen suit. Some would say “timeless”… but I refuse to use that hackneyed word! 🙂
Thanks for posting!
I feel the void left. thanks for this post of his Rome apartment: it shows the scope of his creative inspiration. Mary
That spread on Cy Twombley’s Rome apartment was one of the first things that, forty-some years ago, I ripped apart one of my grandmother’s magazines to save. And as I recall, I got in big trouble for it, too. These things stick with you.
Over the years Twombley’s handsome mix of neutral colors, unrestored antiques & contemporary art against time-stained plaster walls & stone or brick or ancient parquet floors has become so accepted that it’s hard to remember, now, how revolutionary it all was at the time. Even forty years later, few people manage to pull off the look in such an effortless-looking way, although Twombley’s ancient palazzo certainly gave him a visual advantage that most people don’t have. Restoration Hardware uses a similar time-worn aesthetic to give their brand-new products a vintage vibe, but next to these honest rooms, their over-patinaed ads look stagy & self-conscious. Twombley was the real deal.
So chic! So cool to see him in a jacket and tie. Who wears that now??? I miss it!
James does, thank God!
Very recently the Art Institute of Chicago had an exhibition of his work in the new Modern Wing. It was light meets air. I went to see it twice… so much to take in. While Cy’s art was all encompassing, seeing a bit of his world – the furnishings, clothing and a sense of the personal underscores his originality. Thank you.
Have seen some of his works at the Melbourne Art Gallery…as the post above says…he was the real deal! Loved his work…and this post. Merci beaucoup.