Cy Twombly's Paintings: American Artist Dies at 83

Cy Twombly Dies at 83, Leaves Modern-Art Legacy

Cy Twombly, born Edwin Parker Twombly Jr., has passed away at age 83 after a long battle with cancer.

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The Paintings of Cy Twombly

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Cy Twombly's paintings were calligraphy-based. These days, we'd say they were graffiti-based, more like handwriting than painting. Twombly's work has been displayed at major galleries and museums all over the world, and has elicited some profound responses, such as the Phaedrus Incident

The Phaedrus Incident: Don't Kiss the Paintings

French artist Rindy Sam was arrested for walking up to Cy Twombly's Phaedrus, a $2-million triptych that was on display at the Hotel du Caumont in 2007. Rindy Sam's kiss left behind a smudge of red lipstick, which sent the painting's owner, as well as the gallery, into a rage.

Rindy Sam was fined and forced to attend "citizenship classes" (she is of Cambodian descent). Speaking of the incidents, she said, ""A red stain remained on the canvas... This red stain is testimony to this moment, to the power of art."

Cy Twombly: Cryptologist

Taking his nickname from baseball legend Cy ("Cyclone") Young, Cy Twombly's style was influenced by his work as a cryptologist in the US Army.

• Gallery: Cy Twombly's Paintings

The LA Times remembers Cy Twombly as one of the most important artists of the 1950s, along with Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.