Edwin Parker "Cy" Twombly Jr.
- Born:
- April 25, 1928, Lexington, Virginia, USA
- Died:
- July 5, 2011, Rome, Italy
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Painter, Sculptor, Photographer
Early Life and Education
- Originally named after the baseball player Cy Young, hence the nickname "Cy".
- Studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1949-1950).
- Attended the Art Students League of New York (1950-1951).
- Studied at Black Mountain College near Asheville, North Carolina (1951-1952), where he met Robert Rauschenberg and learned from Franz Kline.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served in the U.S. Army as a cryptographer (1953-1954).
- Traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa with Robert Rauschenberg (1952-1953).
- Moved to Italy in 1957, where he lived for much of his life.
- Developed a distinctive style characterized by calligraphic marks, scrawls, and graffiti-like imagery.
- Represented the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1964.
- Retrospective exhibitions held at the Whitney Museum of American Art (1979) and the Museum of Modern Art, New York (1994).
Notable Works
- Venus and Apollo series
- Lepanto series
- Fifty Days at Iliam series
- Sculptures made from found objects, often painted white
- Numerous untitled works exploring themes of mythology, history, and literature.
Legacy and Impact
Edwin Parker "Cy" Twombly Jr., known as Cy Twombly, was a significant figure in postwar American art. His work bridged Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism, influencing generations of artists with its unique blend of gestural abstraction and classical themes. His impact is evident in the continued study and appreciation of his paintings, sculptures, and photographs.