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Alex Katz

Portraits

March 12 – May 8, 2021

Installation Views Thumbnails
Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors.

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors.

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors.

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors.

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Installation View. Photo: Pierre Le Hors. 

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz of a smiling woman wearing a tan bucket and sunglasses against a sandy background

Margit Smiles, 1994

color aquatint, edition of 40

47 1/2 x 34 1/2 in. / 120.7 x 87.6 cm

Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a man with brown hair and wearing a blue coat against a blue background

Blue Coat, 1993

color aquatint, HC

37 x 24 in. / 94 x 61 cm

Color aquatint by Alex Katz featuring the portrait of a woman with black hair wearing red jacket against a pink background

Brisk Day I, 1990

color aquatint, ed. 2 TP

36 1/2 x 29 3/4 in. / 92.7 x 75.6 cm

Color silkscreen by Alex Katz featuring a portrait of a woman with black hair wearing a red jacket featuring button details against a pink background

Brisk Day II, 1990

color silkscreen, edition of 150

36 1/4 x 29 1/2 in. / 92.1 x 74.9 cm

Framed color silkscreen of a woman with black hair and wearing a red jacket featuring her button against a pink background

Brisk Day III, 1990

color silkscreen, edition of 150

36 1/4 x 29 1/2 in. / 92.1 x 74.9 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the back of a woman dancing with one arm stretched out wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 1, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the side of a woman dancing with her arms stretched above her head and wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 2, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the profile of a woman wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings looking upward. The side-view of her arms are stretched out above her head against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 3, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the front view of a woman wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earring with one arm over her head and the other stretched out in a dancing motion against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 4, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph portrait by Alex Katz featuring the profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair and wearing a black and grey speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #1, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph by Alex Katz featuring a 1/4 profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing a black and grey speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #2, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph portrait by Alex Katz featuring a 3/4 profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair and wearing a black speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #3, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Ada Four Times #4, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Ada Four Times #4, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the outline of a woman with her hair in a bun and some strands blowing across her face as she is looking downward against a grey background

Grey Pamela, 1977

lithograph, edition of 30

28 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 72.4 x 54.6 cm

Lithograph by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view using brown tones against a brown background and featuring blonde highlights in her hair

Caroline, 1977

lithograph, edition of 60

27 x 21 in. / 68.6 x 53.3 cm

Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz featuring a boy with brown hair and wearing a white shirt against a green foliage background

Boy with Branch I, 1975

color aquatint, edition of 90

24 1/4 x 40 1/2 in. / 61.6 x 102.9 cm

 

Drypoint drawing by Alex Katz featuring the profile view of a man

Profile of Vincent, 1974

drypoint, edition of 62

15 x 22 in. / 38.1 x 55.9 cm

Framed aquatint/drypoint drawing of a dog with shaggy long hair covering its eyes and featuring its tongue sticking out

Sunny, 1974

aquatint/drypoint, edition of 52

15 x 22 3/8 in. / 38.1 x 56.8 cm

Drypoint portrait by Alex Katz featuring a faint 3/4 view of a man with his mouth slightly open

Vincent With Open Mouth, 1974

drypoint, edition of 58

15 x 22 1/4 in. / 38.1 x 56.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view featuring her mouth slightly open and showing her top teeth

June Ekman's Class: Fran, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz a portrait of a woman with her lips slightly pursed

June Ekman's Class: Harmony, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view and looking straight ahead with her mouth closed

June Ekman's Class: Judy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: June, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: June, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman's face

June Ekman's Class: Kasha, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman's face at 3/4 view with her mouth slightly open

June Ekman's Class: Mary, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Nancy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Nancy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Naomi, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Naomi, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz o a portrait of a woman with her hair in a side ponytail

June Ekman's Class: Roxanne, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait a woman at 3/4 view with chin length hair and her head slightly tilted

June Ekman's Class: Thalia, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a man at 3/4 view against a tinted gray background

June Ekman's Class: Timmie, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of portrait at 3/4 view with straight hair, mouth slightly open, and wearing a turtle neck against a tinted gray background

June Ekman's Class: Yvonne, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz of a smiling woman wearing a tan bucket and sunglasses against a sandy background

Margit Smiles, 1994

color aquatint, edition of 40

47 1/2 x 34 1/2 in. / 120.7 x 87.6 cm

Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a man with brown hair and wearing a blue coat against a blue background

Blue Coat, 1993

color aquatint, HC

37 x 24 in. / 94 x 61 cm

Color aquatint by Alex Katz featuring the portrait of a woman with black hair wearing red jacket against a pink background

Brisk Day I, 1990

color aquatint, ed. 2 TP

36 1/2 x 29 3/4 in. / 92.7 x 75.6 cm

Color silkscreen by Alex Katz featuring a portrait of a woman with black hair wearing a red jacket featuring button details against a pink background

Brisk Day II, 1990

color silkscreen, edition of 150

36 1/4 x 29 1/2 in. / 92.1 x 74.9 cm

Framed color silkscreen of a woman with black hair and wearing a red jacket featuring her button against a pink background

Brisk Day III, 1990

color silkscreen, edition of 150

36 1/4 x 29 1/2 in. / 92.1 x 74.9 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the back of a woman dancing with one arm stretched out wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 1, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the side of a woman dancing with her arms stretched above her head and wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 2, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the profile of a woman wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earrings looking upward. The side-view of her arms are stretched out above her head against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 3, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the front view of a woman wearing a lavender top and gold hoop earring with one arm over her head and the other stretched out in a dancing motion against a blue background

Night: William Dunas Dance No. 4, 1983

color lithograph, edition of 100

25 x 31 1/4 in. / 63.5 x 79.4 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph portrait by Alex Katz featuring the profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair and wearing a black and grey speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #1, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph by Alex Katz featuring a 1/4 profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing a black and grey speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #2, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Color silkscreen with lithograph portrait by Alex Katz featuring a 3/4 profile view of a woman with brown shoulder length hair and wearing a black speckled top against a navy blue background

Ada Four Times #3, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Ada Four Times #4, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Ada Four Times #4, 1979-1980

color silkscreen with lithograph, edition of 120

30 x 22 1/2 in. / 76.2 x 57.2 cm

Lithograph by Alex Katz featuring the outline of a woman with her hair in a bun and some strands blowing across her face as she is looking downward against a grey background

Grey Pamela, 1977

lithograph, edition of 30

28 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. / 72.4 x 54.6 cm

Lithograph by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view using brown tones against a brown background and featuring blonde highlights in her hair

Caroline, 1977

lithograph, edition of 60

27 x 21 in. / 68.6 x 53.3 cm

Framed color aquatint by Alex Katz featuring a boy with brown hair and wearing a white shirt against a green foliage background

Boy with Branch I, 1975

color aquatint, edition of 90

24 1/4 x 40 1/2 in. / 61.6 x 102.9 cm

 

Drypoint drawing by Alex Katz featuring the profile view of a man

Profile of Vincent, 1974

drypoint, edition of 62

15 x 22 in. / 38.1 x 55.9 cm

Framed aquatint/drypoint drawing of a dog with shaggy long hair covering its eyes and featuring its tongue sticking out

Sunny, 1974

aquatint/drypoint, edition of 52

15 x 22 3/8 in. / 38.1 x 56.8 cm

Drypoint portrait by Alex Katz featuring a faint 3/4 view of a man with his mouth slightly open

Vincent With Open Mouth, 1974

drypoint, edition of 58

15 x 22 1/4 in. / 38.1 x 56.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view featuring her mouth slightly open and showing her top teeth

June Ekman's Class: Fran, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz a portrait of a woman with her lips slightly pursed

June Ekman's Class: Harmony, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman at 3/4 view and looking straight ahead with her mouth closed

June Ekman's Class: Judy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: June, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: June, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman's face

June Ekman's Class: Kasha, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait of a woman's face at 3/4 view with her mouth slightly open

June Ekman's Class: Mary, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Nancy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Nancy, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Naomi, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

June Ekman's Class: Naomi, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz o a portrait of a woman with her hair in a side ponytail

June Ekman's Class: Roxanne, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a portrait a woman at 3/4 view with chin length hair and her head slightly tilted

June Ekman's Class: Thalia, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of a man at 3/4 view against a tinted gray background

June Ekman's Class: Timmie, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Aquatint by Alex Katz of portrait at 3/4 view with straight hair, mouth slightly open, and wearing a turtle neck against a tinted gray background

June Ekman's Class: Yvonne, 1972

aquatint, edition of 50

11 1/8 x 15 in. / 28.3 x 38.1 cm

Alex Katz - Exhibitions - Marlborough New York

Alex Katz, Brisk Day II, 1990.
© Alex Katz, Member of Artists Rights Society (ARS).
 

Press Release

The Directors of Marlborough Gallery are pleased to present Alex Katz: Portraits, an exhibition of 31 iconic prints from the legendary New York native who pioneered the reinterpretation of figurative subject matter utilizing a sophisticated, modern approach. The exhibition will open on Friday, March 12, 2021, and will remain on view through Saturday, May 8, 2021.

Alex Katz (b. 1927), a leading figure in the Pop Art movement, first began experimenting with printmaking in 1947 while he was at The Cooper Union in Manhattan, where he received a BA in 1949. Though the artist moved away from printmaking for nearly a decade, Katz returned to the medium in the mid-1960s with vigor. Utilizing a wide variety of printmaking techniques, Katz has created more than 400 editions of lithographs, etchings, silkscreens, woodcuts, and linoleum cuts. Most often, Katz’s prints are reworkings of his paintings, as printmaking serves as a vessel to play with elements of color, shape, and form, creating works that deviate from their original.

Inspired by the grandiosity of the Abstract Expressionists, Katz was the first of his era to paint large-scale representational works. This new realism relied on the tradition established by painters like Courbet and Manet with The Stonebreakers and Olympia, respectively. Katz’s insistence on flatness distinguishes him from the other New York School painters, as this extreme pictorial flatness breaks from an illusionistic representation without veering too far into abstraction.

This exhibition hones in on the subject that exists at the crux of Katz’s oeuvre: portraiture. Through his portraits, Katz creates a vehicle for his subjects to exist as iconography for contemporary life, pulling inspiration from characters in his milieu. Figures such as Ada, Vincent, and Sunny become instantly recognizable, as they are elevated to celebrity-like status through Katz’s repeated representation on “billboard” paintings. Katz identified the biggest challenge of portraiture as being its ability to instinctually capture the essence of his subject, stating in an interview, “Strangely enough, if you don’t have a good likeness you don’t have a good picture.”

Alex Katz's work can be found in over 100 public collections worldwide, and has been in over 250 solo exhibitions and nearly 500 group exhibitions internationally since 1951. Katz will be the subject of a major retrospective opening in 2022 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.
 

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