Aldwyth, a reclusive artist known for her intricate collages and Joseph Cornell-inspired assemblages, has died at age 90. Living an ascetic lifestyle, she created epic, densely layered works that reordered art history and her own place within—and outside—it, often using found objects and meticulous cut-paper compositions.
This week's obituaries mark the passing of several significant figures in the visual arts. They include British surrealist painter and zoologist Desmond Morris, known for his 'biomorph' paintings and experiments with chimpanzee art; West Coast monochrome abstractionist James Hayward, who developed a cult following for his thickly painted canvases; and Chinese American artist Flo Oy Wong, a foundational storyteller of Oakland's Chinatown and the Asian American experience. Also remembered are assemblage artist Aldwyth, Ethiopian painter and educator Behailu Bezabih, Anglo-Irish conservator and designer Alec Cobbe, Bangladeshi art director Tarun Ghosh, and New Mexico painter Michael Hurd.