Mary Heilmann, the painter known for vividly wobbly abstractions, has died at 86. An emblem of the obstacles faced by women artists of her generation, she was 67 when her first museum retrospective opened to rave reviews in 2007.

Heilmann's work blended abstraction with pop culture references, creating colorful, gestural paintings that defied easy categorization. Her late breakthrough at age 67 highlighted the systemic barriers that delayed recognition for many female artists.

Throughout her career, she taught and mentored younger artists while continuing to evolve her distinctive style. Her passing marks the loss of a significant voice in contemporary abstract painting.