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The preeminent American composer -- one of the most respected musical talents of the last 100 years -- died in November at 103. A winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for his compositions, Carter was a great innovator whose music wasn't always accessible to general audiences. But his influence has been immeasurable in the field of new music.
MORE: Elliott Carter dies at 103; inventive American composer | Elliott Carter at 100: still surprising (Hiroyuki Ito / Getty Images)
The fields of art and architecture lost several notable names in 2012.
The most high-profile death was that of Thomas Kinkade, the self-anointed “Painter of Light” who died in April at 58 of an accidental overdose of alcohol and Valium. Kinkade gained a worldwide following for his paintings of cozy cottages and serene landscapes, but he was reviled by critics and most serious art connoisseurs.
In Los Angeles, the year began on a sad note with the apparent suicide of Mike Kelley. The artist died in January at 57. Known for his transgressive work in installations and performance, Kelley channeled a rebellious spirit even as he was recognized by the artistic establishment.
PHOTOS: Notable deaths in arts and culture in 2012
Michael Asher, another local artist with an international reputation, died in October at 69. Karl Benjamin, the abstract painter who lived in Claremont, passed away in July at 86.
In architecture, the year’s biggest loss was that of Oscar Niemeyer, who lived to be 104. The Brazilian architect created numerous modernist buildings, including the structures that make up the capital city of Brasilia.
Click on the photo gallery above for a look at notables in the arts who died in 2012.
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2012 in review: Art's year of deep (and shallow) pockets
