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What is Cy Twombly known for?
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Born in 1928, Cy Twombly was an American painter, sculptor and photographer, and was a key figure in 20th century art. He used combinations of painting and drawing techniques in his work, etched scribbles, repetitive lines, and words and graffiti. Shop a selection of Cy Twombley art from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
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Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics - by Cy Twombly - 1984
By Cy Twombly
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled, Sarayevo Winter Olympic Games 1984, is an etching with aquatint and lithograph in colors realized by Cy Twombly on the occasion of the Winter Olympics Games 1984 in Sarajev...
Category
1980s Contemporary Abstract Prints
Materials
Etching, Aquatint, Lithograph
Allusions, Bay of Naples (from the collection of Donald Baechler) Signed/N print
By Cy Twombly
Located in New York, NY
Cy Twombly
Allusions, Bay of Naples (from the collection of Donald Baechler), 1975
Color offset lithograph and photo lithograph on wove paper
Signed and numbered 56/80 in ink on the ...
Category
1970s Realist Figurative Prints
Materials
Lithograph, Offset
"Earle and Carolyn Brown at the Stevenson's in Brewster" Cy Twombly
By Cy Twombly
Located in New York, NY
Cy Twombly
Earle and Carolyn Brown at the Stevenson's in Brewster, 1955
Identified and inscribed on the reverse by the sitter Carolyn Brown
Photograph on paper
8 x 8 inches
Provenance
Gift of the artist
Estate of Carolyn Brown, New York 2025.
Cy Twombly gained fame for his art that combined cultural, historical, and poetic elements—particularly those from classical antiquity—with abstract shapes and his distinctive script. Born Edwin Parker Twombly, Jr. on April 25, 1928, in Lexington, Virginia, he began his artistic journey under the guidance of Pierre Daura and Marion Junkin at Washington and Lee University. This initial training was complemented by his formative experiences at the Arts Students League of New York and Black Mountain College, where he established enduring friendships with influential figures like Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Merce Cunningham.
A pivotal moment for Twombly was his 1952 trip to Italy and North Africa with Rauschenberg, funded by a grant from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This journey allowed Twombly to engage deeply with the rich cultural history that would inform his future artistic endeavors, leading to the creation of significant early pieces.
Twombly made his way back to Italy in 1957 and 1958, during which he presented his first solo exhibition in Italy at Galleria La Tartaruga, owned by Plinio De Martiis. In 1959, he married Luisa Tatiana...
Category
1950s Modern Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Paesaggio Poster
By Cy Twombly
Located in Manchester, GB
Cy Twombly, Paesaggio Poster, 2025
91.4 × 61 cm (36 × 24 in)
This poster featuring Paesaggio (1986) was produced in conjunction with the exhibition Cy Twombly at Gagosian, 980 Madi...
Category
2010s Contemporary Prints and Multiples
Materials
Lithograph
Five Greek Poets and a Philosopher
By Cy Twombly
Located in London, GB
Complete set of seven lithographs with embossment, 1978, on Richard de Bas mould-made paper, initialed and numbered in pencil from the edition of 40 verso, printed by Matthieu Studio...
Category
1970s Abstract More Prints
Materials
Lithograph
Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics - by Cy Twombly - 1984
By Cy Twombly
Located in Roma, IT
Untitled, Sarayevo Winter Olympic Games 1984, is an etching with aquatint and lithograph in colors realized by Cy Twombly on the occasion of the Winter Olympics Games 1984 in Sarajev...
Category
1980s Contemporary Abstract Prints
Materials
Etching, Aquatint, Lithograph