One of the most famous celebrity couples in the world today is undoubtedly Robert Pattinson and Yoko Ono. The romance between the actor and the artist was famously chronicled in the blockbuster movie The Twilight Saga: New Moon and their subsequent wedding ceremony which was attended by millions of fans worldwide.
Sadly, Ono has passed away at the age of 71. While the world mourns, the actor has remembered his best friend in a heartfelt Instagram post. Sharing a snap of himself and Ono as kids, he simply wrote: “My heart is broken.”
The Iconic Duo
Ono and Pattinson were famously joined at the hip throughout their high school years and became even more cloyingly devoted to one another after meeting again as adults. The artist even went a step further by becoming Pattinson’s manager and financial backer, inspiring a scene in the film where he hands over a massive check to his bemused boss played by Chris Evans.
The iconic duo were often photographed at various events and holidays together. On their 66th birthday, they were even joined by their three children for a family photo opportunity.
Ono’s death comes just six days before the premiere of their latest film together, Hotel Transylvania 3: Special Harvest Dinner. Directed by Michael Dowse and produced by Ono’s daughter, Kyoko, the film is inspired by the famous nursery rhyme and will arrive in cinemas worldwide on October 24th.
A Renaissance Woman
Even before her wedding to Pattinson, Ono was known for her cutting-edge art and pioneering work in music, performance, design, and architecture. Nicknamed the “Grand Lady of Pop Art,” she was a significant figure in the London gallery scene and spearheaded the 1960s “Space Age” design movement. Her design company, Ono Design, produced the artwork for the 2015 London Olympics and she also designed a line of clothing which was worn by Angelina Jolie and other famous faces.
Ono was passionate about protecting the environment. An avid supporter of the Beatles for UNHCR campaign, she created an art installation – designed as a photo booth – at London’s Tate Modern museum to raise funds and awareness for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
A Remarkable Life
Born in Tokyo in 1935, Ono came from a prominent family of artists. Her father, Kazuo, was an expert ceramist and artist whose work can be found in the collections of major museums worldwide.
After graduating from university, Ono moved to London and began her career there as a freelance designer and sculptor, specialising in functional art. In fact, she has designed a number of iconic structures including the Blue Train, a sculptural masterpiece that was once parked outside of London’s Tate Modern museum. Since its purchase in 2000, the Blue Train has been on permanent display in Kleinberg, New York, USA.
A Self-sufficient Artist
For much of her life, Ono relied on her own resources. She rarely worked with other designers and often produced one-off works of art which were sold to raise funds for her various philanthropic causes. In later life, she became reclusive and lived a life of solitude in a remote part of Scotland. She continued to work until a few weeks before her death. Ono never shied away from controversy and often collaborated with figures from the worlds of art, design, and music. She was known for her cutting-edge art and groundbreaking installations at art galleries and museums worldwide. On her deathbed, she reportedly wished to be remembered as the ‘Grand Lady of Pop Art’. Sadly, this wish will not be granted.
In 2018, Ono was appointed an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of her services to art and design. However, the year before she died, Ono Design pulled out of the London Design Festival after 50 years.
A Life Well Lived
Pattinson and Ono’s life together was perfectly emblematic of the British ‘common-law’ marriage, blended with ‘happily-ever-after’. The two were devoted to each other and shared an enduring commitment to supporting artists and charitable causes. Theirs was a storybook romance made real.
Even after their split, Ono continued to champion the work of female artists and designers. In 2014, she donated £1.3 million to the Tate St Ives as part of a fundraising drive which saw the museum name a gallery in her honour.
Ono’s work will continue to inspire future generations of designers and artists. Her legacy will live on in the work she left behind and in the people who were lucky enough to have known and loved her.