Cy Twombly BIOGRAPHY
Early Life and Education
Cy Twombly was born Edwin Parker Twombly Jr. in 1928 in Lexington, Virginia. He grew up immersed in the history and culture of the Southern United States. Twombly’s father, Edwin Parker Twombly Sr., was a coach and athletic director at Washington and Lee University, and young Twombly developed an interest in sports and competition.
Twombly attended Lexington High School and showed an early aptitude for art. He enrolled in the Boston Museum School in 1946, where he studied under abstract expressionist painter Pierre Daura.
In 1949, Twombly received a scholarship to study at the Art Students League of New York. There, he was exposed to the works of surrealist artists like Kandinsky, Miró, and Masson, who would greatly influence his style.
In 1950, Twombly traveled to North Africa on an art scholarship from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The trip had a profound impact on his artistic development. The ancient Roman and Egyptian ruins made a lasting impression on Twombly, influencing the minimalist and poetic sensibility of his later work.
Upon returning to New York, Twombly met Robert Rauschenberg, an artist who would become his close friend and collaborator. Rauschenberg introduced Twombly to the New York art scene and avant-garde happenings at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. Twombly began developing his signature style of expressive and textured abstract paintings during this time, which incorporated scribbles, scratches, and poetic phrases.
In 1957, Twombly moved to Rome, where he lived until his death in 2011. Italy’s rich history and culture inspired Twombly and gave rise to his loosely biographical “blackboard” paintings. Twombly continued to gain international recognition for his enigmatic and intensely personal abstract paintings over the following decades. He is regarded as one of the most important artists of post-war abstraction.
What is Cy Twombly known for?
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Career highlights
How Twombly Became a Prominent Contemporary Artist?
To become a prominent contemporary artist, Cy Twombly endured a long journey filled with experimentation, persistence, and a dedication to his craft.
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Twombly studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Washington, D.C.’s Catholic University of America. He then traveled to New York City in 1950 where he met Robert Rauschenberg, an artist who became his lifelong friend and collaborator. Together, they explored combining painting and sculpture in experimental ways.
In the early 1950s, Twombly traveled around North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. These travels inspired him to incorporate graffiti and calligraphy into his artwork. He began creating large-scale paintings featuring scrawled words and scratches that evoked a sense of rawness and immediacy. This style became the hallmark of his work.
In the 1960s, his paintings became more minimal, with series focused on the colors white and gray.
By the 1970s, his paintings featured more color and allusions to mythological and historical subjects.
TWOMBLY’S DISTINCT PAINTING STYLE
What Type of Artwork Did Cy Twombly Create?
Cy Twombly was an American artist known for his unique style of abstract expressionism. His artwork consisted of large-scale paintings and drawings that often combined elements of calligraphy, graffiti, and scribbles.
Twombly’s work was characterized by his gestural and spontaneous brushwork, as well as his use of bold colors and repetitive markings. He often incorporated words and phrases into his artwork, blurring the lines between painting and writing. Twombly’s work was highly influential in the art world and continues to be celebrated for its raw emotion and poetic quality.
What Materials Did Cy Twombly Use?
Cy Twombly, one of the most influential abstract expressionist artists, used a variety of materials in his artwork. His early works often featured pencil and crayon on paper or canvas, creating delicate and intricate lines.
As his career progressed, Twombly started incorporating more unconventional materials into his pieces. He began using oil-based house paint, which allowed him to create bold and vibrant colors. He also experimented with collage, incorporating elements such as newspaper clippings and found objects into his works.
In addition to these materials, Twombly also worked with sculpture, using materials like wood, plaster, and metal to create three-dimensional pieces. Overall, Twombly’s use of diverse materials added depth and texture to his artwork, further enhancing the emotional impact of his abstract expressionist style.
Cy Twombly List of Work
Twombly gained recognition for his expressive and emotive abstract paintings. Twombly’s paintings from this era featured scrawled words and lines, drips and splatters that conveyed a sense of movement and freedom.
His prolific career spanned over six decades. Some work include:
1953 | First solo exhibition | Held at the Stable Gallery followed by shows at the Leo Castelli Gallery. |
1963 | “Nine Discourses on Commodus” | This work demonstrated pared-down and poetic style. |
The late 1960s | Series of “blackboard” paintings | He created paintings inspired by schoolroom chalkboards. These large-scale, gray-ground works featured expressive white lines that resembled chalk scribbles, numbers, and phallic forms. The “blackboard” paintings explored themes of violence, sexuality, and humanity. |
1968 | Milwaukee Art Museum | First retrospective was held |
1994 | Guggenheim Museum | These exhibitions solidified Twombly’s reputation as a pioneering contemporary artist who expanded the possibilities of abstraction.
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1995 | Menil Collection in Houston | |
2008 | Tate Modern in London |
What Made Cy Twombly Famous?
Cy Twombly left behind an indelible legacy as an artist. His expressive and enigmatic paintings have cemented his status as one of the most influential contemporary artists.
Decades after his death, Twombly’s paintings continue to fascinate and perplex viewers. His revolutionary abstract style and poetic sensibility have established him as a seminal figure who shaped the course of 20th century art. Twombly’s timeless works remain influential, continuing to inspire new generations of artists. His legacy as an avant-garde artist who forged new creative territory is enduring.
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More about Cy Twombly
Foundation: http://www.cytwombly.org/
