Robert Wilson, Avant-Garde Theater Director, Dies at 83

Robert Wilson, a pioneering American experimental theater and opera director known for his avant-garde productions and collaborations with artists such as Philip Glass and Lady Gaga, has died at age 83 in Water Mill, New York, after a brief illness. Born in Waco, Texas, in 1941, Wilson overcame personal challenges and went on to revolutionize the stage with his unique fusion of movement, image, sound, and space, creating works like the silent opera Deafman Glance and the groundbreaking Einstein on the Beach. His career spanned over six decades and included more than 200 productions, blending dance, lighting, sculpture, and music in innovative ways that reshaped contemporary performance art. Wilson was also the founder of The Watermill Center, an interdisciplinary laboratory for art and humanities, which continues his artistic legacy. Known for his hypnotic productions and sculptural lighting, Wilson remained active in his craft until the end, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to influence theater worldwide. Memorials are planned to honor his contributions to the arts.