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Franz West, innovative Austrian artist, dies at 65

Franz West, the Austrian artist whose innovative work was widely admired, has died at 65 in Vienna.
(Georg Hochmuth / EPA )
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Franz West, the Austrian artist known for his innovative sculptures and installations, has died at 65. West died in Vienna on Wednesday following a long illness, according to reports.

West’s sculptural creations were both playful and serious, accessible and yet intellectually challenging. During his career, West mounted shows at major museums around the world. A retrospective exhibition of his work organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art came to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2009.

Last year, West received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale.

West created an installation called “Test” -- consisting of 28 sofas arranged in four diagonal rows of seven -- that appeared outdoors at the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A. in 1994.

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