Alex Katz

American, 1927-Present

Alex Katz is an American painter known for his distinctive portraits and streamlined approach to form and color. Born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrant parents, he studied at the Cooper Union School of Art and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine—training that shaped both his technical precision and long-standing ties to the Northeast. 

Since the 1950s, Katz has focused on large-scale portraits of friends, artists, and public figures, developing a flattened, graphic style that stands apart from both abstraction and realism. His work emerged in contrast to the dominant Abstract Expressionism of the era, offering a cooler, more distilled vision of everyday life. 

In addition to his studio work, he has produced major public installations, including billboards in Times Square and murals in the New York City Subway. With a career spanning over seven decades, Katz remains a consistent presence in American art, known for his unique style and portrayal contemporary life. Katz’s paintings are held in major public collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Tate Modern, underscoring his lasting impression across generations.