Thursday, July 24th marks the 98th birthday of the acclaimed American contemporary artist, Alex Katz. Looking back on his long career, it is easy to see how Katz’s distinctive style, characterised by flat planes of rich, vibrant colour, has become renowned for its unique vision. It is a vision that beautifully blends Pop Art with the visual aesthetics of television and film.
Alex Katz, Berlin 2006 © Oliver Mark / CC BY-SA 4.0
Alex Katz, Purple Tulips 1, from The Flowers Portfolio, 2021
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The Flowers Portfolio, created in 2021, is a stunning example of Katz’s unique minimalistic style and bold use of colour. Looking at Purple Tulips 1, we see how Katz renders flowers as simplified forms that, despite their abstraction, retain an essence of movement and vitality. The compositions in this portfolio create a vivid graphic presence, making each print visually striking and instantly recognisable.
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Alex Katz, Olivia I, 2025
Also available for purchase at Shapero Modern is Olivia I, this is an iconic example of Katz’s striking attitude towards portraiture, featuring a female sitter up-close, in profile. Cropped in tight from the side of the face, Katz’s figure gazes outwards in a focused and self-assured manner. The ambitious size of this work on paper is characteristic of Katz due to his fascination with billboards advertisement and the process of physical enlargement.
Alex Katz, Black Hat 2, 2010
Whilst Alex Katz is also known as a painter and sculpture, printmaking has always played a central role in the artist’s oeuvre. Katz uses numerous techniques including silkscreens, linocuts, etchings, lithographs and woodcuts to capture his bold, minimalist style, employing the same electric colours that define his paintings such as Black Hat 2 (illustrated). Alex Katz continues to hold a distinctive place in the art world with his unique visual style and universal appeal, making his printed works of paper the perfect addition to any art collection.
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Alex Katz, Goldenrod, from The Flowers Portfolio, 2021
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