Revolutionary Artist Pat Steir Dies at 87
The iconic painter is best known for her signature technique, which she used to create her monumental “Waterfall” series.
Trailblazing artist Pat Steir died on Wednesday at age 87 in Manhattan, according to her family members. The influential American artist, who was celebrated for her “Waterfall” canvases that she created by methodically pouring and throwing paint, has been featured in some of the world’s most prestigious museums throughout her illustrious career.
At age 80, she erected “Color Wheel,” her largest painting installation ever, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. The exhibition featured dozens of large-scale works that transformed the second floor of the museum into a spectrum of color.
In 2020, Steir was the subject of a documentary titled Pat Steir: Artist, which was filmed largely in her Greenwich Village townhouse. The documentary featured Steir’s methods behind creating the “Waterfall” series and personal reflections, including what it was like to combat ageism and gender inequality as a female artist. “I think to be seen as powerful is more difficult for a woman, even when the opportunity rears its head,” she said.
She is survived by her husband, Joost Elffers, and niece, Lily Sukoneck-Cohen.
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