Portrait of Robert Wilson. Photo: Yiorgos Kaplanidis.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Robert Wilson, who died on July 31st in Water Mill, New York, at the age of 83.
He is celebrated for his innovative work in theatre, visual art and design and for the originality of his vision across media. A major figure in the burgeoning New York avant-garde in the 1960s, Wilson turned his attention to large-scale opera in the 1970s and, with Philip Glass, created the monumental Einstein on the Beach (1976). Transcending theatrical convention, Wilson's career encompassed adaptations of literary works from Homer to Shakespeare, biographies of historical figures like Stalin and Freud, and collaborations with internationally acclaimed writers, musicians, and visual arts. In 1992, Wilson established The Watermill Center, a laboratory for performance in Long Island, New York, to support opera and theater, and present cultural festivals.
Paula Cooper Gallery has worked with Wilson since 1975, exhibiting his drawing, sculpture, furniture, installation and video art in presentations that often related to operatic works, such as Deafman Glance (1971), The CIVIL warS (1984) and White Raven (1991).
We are grateful for many years of collaboration with this truly brilliant interdisciplinary artist.