Stephen Mueller, abstract painter and critic, dies at 63; work featured in NYU exhibition

Stephen Mueller, an abstract painter and art critic, died on Friday after a brief struggle with lung cancer, just before his 64th birthday. Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1947, he studied at the University of Texas, Austin and earned a master's degree at Bennington College in Vermont, where he encountered Greenbergian formalism. His mature paintings blended cosmic and decorative elements, often featuring mandalas and plaids with vibrant, modulated colors. Currently, eight of his watercolors are part of the group exhibition 'Papertails' curated by Kiki Smith and Valerie Hammond at NYU's 80WSE Gallery on Washington Square. In 2010, he had a solo show at Lennon, Weinberg, where he had exhibited since 2007; a review by Stephanie Buhmann noted its impact alongside shows by Thomas Nozkowski and Brice Marden. Mueller also wrote art criticism, publishing in Art in America magazine, Gay City News, and artcritical, with his tone mixing deadpan delivery and enthusiasm. His career balanced aesthetic purism with visual culture engagement, resulting in harmonious, complex work. He was known for a somber demeanor that belied a generous spirit and love for life.