Obituary He carved out a space for himself in the downtown art scene as a bold artist and gallerist who championed contemporaries such as Claes Oldenburg and Jim Dine. May 28, 2026 — 3 min read Jay Milder (1934–2026) (all images courtesy Eric Firestone Gallery) Jay Milder, founder of City Gallery and painter of bold abstractions that interpreted New York City life, has died at the age of 92. The news of his passing was announced by Eric Firestone Gallery, which has represented the artist since 2022.  Milder passed away in his beloved city on Wednesday, May 27, from a stroke, according to the gallery. Born in Omaha in 1934, Milder moved from Nebraska to New York after graduating from high school. In the decades following his arrival, Milder carved out a space for himself in the downtown art scene as a bold Figurative Expressionist and cooperative gallerist who championed informal and improvisational works. "Jay was at the center of something,” dealer Eric Firestone told Hyperallergic in an email.…