【Book Description】
Alex Katz is one of the most important figures in contemporary art, renowned for his distinctive painting style and profound depictions of the human figure. Emerging in the New York art scene in the 1950s—when Abstract Expressionism was in full swing and Pop Art was just beginning—Katz remained independent from these dominant movements, forging his own unique path in art history.
Katz’s works are characterized by their simplicity and bold use of color, particularly in his elegant and alluring portraits of women. With precise lines and expansive planes of color, his paintings embody both modernity and timeless beauty. Iconic female portraits such as Black Dress (1960), Blue Umbrella (1972), and White Hat Brim (2003) have become defining images of late 20th-century femininity. Beyond women, his oeuvre also encompasses male portraits, group portraits, landscapes, and interiors, created across a range of media including oil on canvas, cut-out metal sculptures, drawings, and collages.
Katz’s art is not only technically accomplished but also marked by his acute observation of detail and a deep understanding of form. His works investigate the relationship between public and private space, while challenging conventional notions of portraiture and spatial depiction. More than a painter, Katz is an artist who has masterfully captured the spirit of his time.
Throughout his career, Katz has received wide recognition. In 1986, he was the subject of a major traveling retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, and his works have been exhibited worldwide. They are also represented in the collections of leading museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Nationalgalerie in Berlin.
A Milestone Tribute to a Contemporary Master
When Alex Katz first appeared in the New York art scene, Abstract Expressionism dominated and Pop Art was just emerging. Yet Katz maintained an independent stance, creating a singular artistic language. Best known for his stylish and elegant portraits of women—rendered in bold, flat planes of color—his work also includes portraits of men, groups, landscapes, and interiors, executed across painting, cut-out sculptures, drawings, and collages.
Monumental works such as Black Dress (1960), Blue Umbrella (1972), Red Coat (1982), and White Hat Brim (2003) have become icons of female imagery in the late 20th century. In 1986, the Whitney Museum of American Art hosted a major retrospective of Katz’s work, and his art continues to be exhibited internationally. His works are housed in world-class institutions, including MoMA in New York, Tate Modern in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Nationalgalerie in Berlin.
The volume features authoritative essays by New York art critic Carter Ratcliff, a leading specialist on Katz, who provides a comprehensive overview of the artist’s career from the 1950s to the present. In an interview, curator and critic Robert Storr explores Katz’s artistic practice and technique in relation to the ever-changing art world. Curator Iwona Blazwick focuses on Sylvia (1962–63), a classic Katz portrait, analyzing the silent dialogue between the artist, his subject, and their urban setting.
Additional sections include “Artist’s Choice,” in which Katz selects works by nine New York School poets who had deep connections to his art, and “Artist’s Writings,” which compiles Katz’s own texts, from his early 1959 essay critiquing the use of the term “academy” to recent reflections on the beginnings of his career. The book also contains interviews with some of the most significant figures in 20th-century art, including critic David Sylvester, artists Francesco Clemente, Jane Freilicher, and Richard Prince.
【Details】
Editors: Gunhild Bauer, Klaus Albrecht Schröder
Contributors: Vivien Bittencourt & 4 more
Publisher: Hatje Cantz
Size: 29 × 24 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 480
