Painter, sculptor, and printmaker Frank Stella, known for his influential contributions to minimalist and post-painterly abstraction art movements, passed away at his Manhattan home at age 87 on Saturday.
Gallery owner Jeffrey Deitch confirmed Stella’s death, while his wife, Harriet McGurk, cited lymphoma as the cause, according to The Associated Press and The New York Times.
Born in Malden, Massachusetts, on May 12, 1936, Stella studied at Princeton University before relocating to New York City in the late 1950s. At a time dominated by abstract expressionism, Stella ventured into minimalism, gaining acclaim at just 23 for his series of flat, black paintings adorned with gridlike bands and stripes, crafted with house paint and exposed canvas.
Frank Stella stands between his collages (Pam Jonas/Shutterstock)
Throughout the following decade, Stella maintained his structured approach while introducing curved lines and vibrant colors, notably in the Protractor series, inspired by the tool of the same name and marked by large-scale, curved shapes.
By the late 1970s, Stella began integrating three-dimensional elements into his art, blending painting with sculpture using metals and other mixed media.
Active and prolific throughout his 80s, Stella’s latest creations are currently exhibited at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York City. These striking sculptures, characterized by vibrant, twisting bands that appear weightless yet substantial, showcase his enduring innovation and artistic vision.
