Alex Katz, born on July 24, 1927, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, is a renowned American figurative painter celebrated for his large-scale, simplified images of family, friends, and landscapes. Growing up in a family of Russian immigrants, Katz studied at Cooper Union and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Emerging in the 1950s amidst Abstract Expressionism, he developed a distinctive style characterized by flat, vibrant backgrounds and reductive forms, often incorporating elements of Pop Art.
Katz’s work is represented in numerous prestigious museums and collections worldwide, reflecting his significant impact on contemporary art. The Colby College Museum of Art in Maine houses nearly 900 of his works, including iconic paintings and cut-out sculptures, within the dedicated Paul J. Schupf Wing for the Works of Alex Katz, one of the few museum wings devoted to a living artist. The Portland Museum of Art also features gifts from the Alex Katz Foundation, showcasing his vision of modern and contemporary art. Internationally, the Museum Brandhorst in Munich holds an extensive collection of his works, spanning his career from the 1950s to today. Additionally, his art is included in major institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York