Flat color and minimal forms contrast the often monumental scales of the paintings by Alex Katz through which he creates portraits and landscapes of deceptive simplicity. Although the signature stark style that defines his prints and other work is now recognizable at a glance, it took him a decade to develop. During that time, he has said he destroyed hundreds of paintings.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian émigré parents, Katz’s family moved to Queens when he was a baby and that is where his family’s passion for the arts supported his early creative interests. In 1946, he enrolled at the Cooper Union in Manhattan where he studied painting under Morris Kantor. While he was influenced by the bold colors and hard edges of modernism, he shifted away from the then-dominant Abstract Expressionism movement to figurative scenes of life that have an inherent cool in their pared-down approach. Especially impactful were Katz’s summer studies between 1949 and 1950 at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, a place where, as he later wrote: “I tried plein air painting and found my subject matter and a reason to devote my life to painting.”
Katz’s first solo show was in 1954 at Roko Gallery in New York. He experimented over the course of the following years with collage and painting on aluminum sheets, with his work in the 1960s drawing inspiration from film and advertising. In the 1970s, Katz expanded into portrait groups that regularly depicted the cultural scene of New York; in the 1980s, he extended his focus to fashion and its supermodels. Since the late 1950s, an enduring muse for his portraits has been his wife, Ada, while others have painted friends and famous figures. The intimate closeness of the frequently cropped faces in Katz’s portraits exudes a sense of tension with the subjects’ enigmatic expressions and planes of color.
In the 1960s, Katz collaborated with American dancer and choreographer Paul Taylor on sets and costumes. His concentration on landscapes emerged in the late 1980s, with atmospheric night views joining his practice, which had previously been defined by bright colors. Always finding new perspectives on his work, he has explored using iPhone photographs as the basis for large-scale compositions in recent years.
Katz’s prolific career has spanned sculpture, prints and public art along with his paintings and drawings, and his works can be found in the collections of leading museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art and Museum of Modern Art. He has had over 250 solo exhibitions around the world and continues to be acclaimed. In 2022, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opened a major retrospective of his art.
Find Alex Katz art today on 1stDibs.
$16,750
Sasha 1
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Alex Katz (b. 1927) has been dedicated to art-making since the 1950's - however, it wasn't until the 60's when he established his signature 'flat' figurative style. Over the succeedi...
Laser, Archival Pigment
Perry from White Shirt series
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Perry from White Shirt series Year: 2021 Medium: Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm fine art paper Edition: 50; signed and numbered in...
Archival Pigment
Susan (1976), Screenprint by Alex Katz (Deluxe Limited Edition of 50)
By Alex Katz
Located in Hong Kong, HK
Susan (1976) A rare and historic lithograph by Alex Katz signed and numbered by the artist. screenprint in colors on Tronko Japan paper sheet/image: 26 h × 19⅝ w in (66 × 50 cm) fr...
Paper, Screen
Alex Katz Original Etching Print, 2005, Framed, from Gloria Portfolio, 6
By Alex Katz
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Gloria 6 Medium: Etching on Zerkall Ingress paper Date: 2005 Portfolio: 2005 Gloria Edition: 25/100 Frame Size: 15" x 15" Sheet Size: 12" x 9" Image Size: 4...
Archival Pigment
Coca Cola Girl 3
By Alex Katz
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Alex Katz (b. 1927) Coca Cola Girl 3, 2019, (41/60) 14-color silkscreen on Saunders Waterford High White HP 425 gsm fine art paper40.50 x 50 in (102.87 x 127 cm) - Published by LOCOC...
Screen
Red Coat Screenprint by Alex Katz, Contemporary, Signed, 1983, 55/73
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
Alex Katz (b. 1927, American) Red Coat 1983 Screenprint 57 3/4 x 28 7/8 in. 55/73 Pencil signed and numbered Alex Katz is an American painter of portraits a...
Screen
Vivien with Hat
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Alex Katz Vivien with Hat 2021 Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag fine art paper 36 x 48 in. Edition of 150 Pencil signed & numbered Accom...
Archival Pigment
Purple Tulips 2
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Purple Tulips 2 Year: 2021 Medium: Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm fine art paper Edition: 100; signed...
Archival Pigment
$4,455Sale Price|70% Off
Pas de Deux II
By Alex Katz
Located in Greenwich, CT
Pas de Deux II (Danny Moynihan and Laura Faber) is a serigraph on paper with an image size of 36 x 20 inches, signed ‘Alex Katz’ lower left and numbered 107/150. From the edition of ...
Paper, Screen
Alex Katz Original Etching Print, 2005, Framed, from Gloria Portfolio, 16
By Alex Katz
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Gloria 16 Medium: Etching on Zerkall Ingress paper Date: 2005 Portfolio: 2005 Gloria Edition: 25/100 Frame Size: 15" x 15" Sheet Size: 12" x 9" Image Size: ...
Archival Pigment
Black Hat -- Woodcut, Print, Portrait by Alex Katz
By Alex Katz
Located in London, GB
Black Hat, 2012 Alex Katz Woodcut, on Somerset satin white Signed and numbered from the edition of 25 Printed by Collaborative Art Editions, Tampa Published by Lococo Fine Art Publi...
Woodcut
Alex Katz 'Sara' Signed Screenprint 2012
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
ALEX KATZ (1927-Present) Sara, from Three Portraits Silkscreen Suite 32-color silkscreen on Rising museum board signed and numbered 23/60 in pencil. Published by Lococo Fine Art Pub...
Archival Paper, Screen
The Creative Director (Pharrell)
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz The Creative Director (Pharrell) 2025 Silkscreen in colors on Saunders Waterford High White HP 425 gsm fine art paper 36 x 26 inches (91.5 x 66 cm) Edition of 75 Alex Katz...
Screen
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Carter and Phyllis
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Adored by collectors and art lovers the world over, Alex Katz is renowned for his elegant and distinctive version of figuration. Born in 1927, Katz has been dedicated to art-making s...
Woodcut
$3,855Sale Price|70% Off
Pas de Deux III
By Alex Katz
Located in Greenwich, CT
Pas de Deux III (Francesco and Alba Clemente) is a serigraph on paper with an image size of 36 x 20 inches, signed ‘Alex Katz’ lower left and numbered 106/150. From the edition of 17...
Paper, Screen
Large Head of Vincent
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Alex Katz (b. 1927) has been dedicated to art-making since the 1950's - however, it wasn't until the 60's when he established his signature 'flat' figurative style. Over the succeedi...
Aquatint
Looking at Art With Alex Katz, hardback monograph hand signed by Alex Katz
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz Looking at Art With Alex Katz (hand signed by Alex Katz), 2018 Hardback monograph with dust jacket (hand signed in black pen on the title page) hand signed by Alex Katz in ...
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset, Board
$12,000
Spring 1
By Alex Katz
Located in Boca Raton, FL
The Spring series represents Katz’s profound engagement with the cyclical nature of time. The abstracted compositions of falling leaves or budding branches embody a conceptual rather...
Screen
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Jennifer and Eric
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Adored by collectors and art lovers the world over, Alex Katz is renowned for his elegant and distinctive version of figuration. Born in 1927, Katz has been dedicated to art-making s...
Woodcut
$13,310
Coca-Cola Girl 8 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Alex Katz, Swim Suit, Woman, Red
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
"Coca-Cola Girl 8" is a very special one out of Alex Katz's Coca-Cola Girl series. These figures bear witness of his deep engagement with the ideas of advertisment, figurative art an...
Screen
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Eric and Anni
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Adored by collectors and art lovers the world over, Alex Katz is renowned for his elegant and distinctive version of figuration. Born in 1927, Katz has been dedicated to art-making s...
Woodcut
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
Julian and Jessica
By Alex Katz
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Adored by collectors and art lovers the world over, Alex Katz is renowned for his elegant and distinctive version of figuration. Born in 1927, Katz has been dedicated to art-making s...
Woodcut
Coleman Pond III
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
Alex Katz (b. 1927) Coleman Pond III (Bauer 446) Heliorelief woodcut on tosa washi hanga natural paper Signed and numbered “Pres 1/6” in the lower margin. Printed by Tom Pruitt, G...
Etching, Woodcut
$14,000
Olivia 1
By Alex Katz
Located in Boca Raton, FL
This work is edition number 33/50. Signed/numbered in pencil, lower lect. By reducing his subjects to their most essential visual components, Alex Katz engages in a reductive proc...
Screen
Alex Katz Original Etching Print, 2005, Framed, from Gloria Portfolio, 11
By Alex Katz
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Gloria 11 Medium: Etching on Zerkall Ingress paper Date: 2005 Portfolio: 2005 Gloria Edition: 25/100 Frame Size: 15" x 15" Sheet Size: 12" x 9" Image Size: ...
Archival Pigment
Alex Katz, Night (from Northern Landscapes): Woodcut, Pop Art, Signed Print
By Alex Katz
Located in Hamburg, DE
Alex Katz (American, born 1927) Night (from Northern Landscapes), 1994 Medium: Woodcut in colors, on Japan paper Dimensions: 51 × 40.5 cm (20 1/10 × 15 9/10 in) Edition of 100: Hand-...
Woodcut
Ada in Blue Hat - 2004 - Aquatint in 11 colors - Portrait of Ada Katz in Maine
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
Ada in Blue Hat 2004 Aquatint in 11 colors 33 1/2 x 67 in. Edition of 75 Pencil signed and numbered With flat planes of rich, lovely color, Alex Katz’s landscapes and portraits evok...
Aquatint
Halsey - portrait, smile, earring, pearl, brown hair
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
This is one of the latest prints by Alex Katz. The half portrait is an audacious way to create a portrait. The multiple zoom and the clear frontal portrait are very typical for Katz ...
Digital Pigment
COCA-COLA GIRL 2
By Alex Katz
Located in Fairfield, CT
19-color silkscreen Prints can be rolled and shipped via tube for a flat-rate of $300 via FedEx.
Screen
Ada (Purple)
By Alex Katz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Edition of 75 1 Color Woodcut on Somerset Satin White, 300 gsm
Woodcut
$32,000
Straw Hat 3
By Alex Katz
Located in Boca Raton, FL
woman in straw hat with eyes closed
Archival Pigment
Sunrise 1 - Portrait, hat, shadow, sun light, lilac, blonde
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
"Sunrise 1", a cool, zoomed portrait in the characteristic style of Alex Katz. Wonderful colors and a the feeling of a hot summer day. Signed "Alex Katz" bottom right and numbered "3...
Digital Pigment
$29,700
Ada
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Alex Katz Ada 2011 Japanese woodblock in 31-colors on New Hosho paper 22 x 30 in. Edition of 70 Pencil signed & numbered Accompanied with COA by Gregg Shi...
Woodcut
Ada 2 (Outline) - shining, silvery, beauty, sculpture, polished aluminum
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
"Ada 2 (Outline)" is a stunning piece of art. Usually, Katz is well known for his cut-outs, but this is an "outline" sculpture made of high glossy polished aluminum. It is light as a...
Bronze
Purple Tulips 1, from The Flowers Portfolio
By Alex Katz
Located in London, GB
Archival pigment print, 2021, on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm paper, signed in pencil, numbered from the edition of 100, Lococo Publishing, Missouri, 80 x 119 cm. (31½ x 46¾ in.)
Archival Pigment
$26,016
Ada - Portrait Print by Alex Katz, Ada, Red, Pearl Necklace, Portrait, Pop Art
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
"Ada" from 2011 is a Japanese woodblock in thirty-one colors on New Hosho paper. We are offering the number 18/70. 3 Artist's proofs. Ada is Alex Katz' wife and his most important mu...
Woodcut
Portraits: Alba
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz uses outline drawings, called “cartoons”, as templates to transfer full size images onto the canvas prior to painting. Rendered in red chalk or charcoal on brown paper, th...
Etching
$55,000
White Visor
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Alex Katz White Visor 2003 Etching Aquatint 33 3/8 x 66 7/8 in. Edition of 75 Pencil signed & numbered Accompanied with COA by Gregg Shienbaum Fine Art ...
Etching, Aquatint
White Shirt Portfolio
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: White Shirt Portfolio Year: 2021 Medium: Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm fine art paper Sheets: 26 × 15 in (66× 38.1 cm) Edition: ...
Archival Pigment
$22,000
Dancer 2
By Alex Katz
Located in Fairfield, CT
Silkscreen in 25-colors on Saunders Waterford HP High White 425 gsm paper edition of 60
Screen
American Dance Festival 1993 60th Anniversary
By Alex Katz
Located in Dubai, Dubai
American Dance Festival 1993 60th Anniversary, 1993 By Alex Katz 1993 Signed Medium: Serigraph Paper Size: 60 x 24 inches ( 152 x 61 cm ) Image Size: 60 x 24 inches ( 152 x 61 ...
Screen
Vivien in White Coat
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION: Alex Katz Vivien in White Coat 2021 Silkscreen 54 x 39 in. Edition of 60 Pencil signed and numbered
Screen
$10,000
White Lotus 2
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: White Lotus 2 Year: 2023 Medium: Archival pigment inks on 315 gsm fine art paper Edition: 50; signed and numbered in pencil Sheet: 32 × 48 in (81.3 × 121.9...
Archival Pigment
$10,000
White Lotus 1
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: White Lotus 1 Year: 2023 Medium: Archival pigment inks on 315 gsm fine art paper Edition: 50; signed and numbered in pencil Sheet: 32 × 48 in (81.3 × 121.9...
Archival Pigment
$10,917Sale Price|44% Off
Gray Dress (Laura)
By Alex Katz
Located in Greenwich, CT
Gray Dress (Laura) is a serigraph on paper with an image size of 36 x 28, signed 'Alex Katz' and annotated lower left, framed in a contemporary black fram...
Paper, Screen
Monograph: Alex Katz Black and White (Hand signed by Alex Katz)
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz Alex Katz Black and White (Hand signed by Alex Katz), 2017 Hardback monograph with no dust jacket as issued (Hand signed by Alex Katz) Hand signed by Alex Katz on the first...
Paper, Ink, Mixed Media, Lithograph, Offset
$7,500
"Ada Four Times #2" Modern Figurative Silkscreen & Lithograph AP Edition 6/6
By Alex Katz
Located in Houston, TX
Modern figurative silkscreen and lithograph by renowned artist Alex Katz. The work features a portrait of Ada, Katz's wife and muse, turned to face the left. The work is part of a se...
Lithograph, Screen
$10,000
Blue Coat
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Image size: 24 x 12 inches Edition of 30 Portrait of the artist's son Vincent. Internationally recognized painter and printmaker Alex Katz was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York. ...
Aquatint
$16,000Sale Price|20% Off
Olivia 2 (from Oliva suite), large hand signed silkscreen
By Alex Katz
Located in Aventura, FL
Olivia 2 from Oliva suite. Hand signed by Alex Katz lower left. Hand numbered PP 4/4 lower right (there is also a main edition of 50). Artwork size: 40 x 54 inches. Published by L...
Paper, Screen
William Dunas Dance 4 - Pamela, Lithograph by Alex Katz
By Alex Katz
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Alex Katz, American (1927 - ) Title: Night: William Dunas Dance II Year: 1983 Medium: Lithograph, signed and numbered in pencil Edition: 106/125 and there were also 17 artist...
Lithograph
Purple Irises on Red
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz Purple Irises on Red 2023 Archival pigment ink print, on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm 24 x 30 inches (61 x 76 cm) unframed Signed and numbered edition of 100 Alex Kat...
Archival Pigment
Alex Katz - "Plate 3" From GLORIA Portfolio (Original Etching, 2005) Ed 100
By Alex Katz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This print is priced fairly, offered at the same wholesale discount extended to our partner galleries and private dealers. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to compare our lis...
Etching
Alex Katz - "Plate 24" From GLORIA Portfolio (Original Etching, 2005) Ed 100
By Alex Katz
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This print is priced fairly, offered at the same wholesale discount extended to our partner galleries and private dealers. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to compare our lis...
Etching
Goldenrod (from Flowers Portfolio)
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Goldenrod (from Flowers Portfolio) Year: 2021 Medium: Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm fine art paper Edition: 86/100; signed and ...
Archival Pigment
Coca-Cola Girl (Suite)
By Alex Katz
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Alex Katz Title: Coca-Cola Girl (Suite) Year: 2018 Medium: Archival pigment inks on Entrada Rag Bright 300 gsm fine art paper Edition: 100; each signed, numbered and dated in...
Archival Pigment
$280Sale Price|20% Off
After Alex Katz 'American Dance Festival 2003-70th Anniversary'
By Alex Katz
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paper Size: 31.75 x 53 inches ( 80.645 x 134.62 cm ) Image Size: 28 x 53 inches ( 71.12 x 134.62 cm ) Framed: No Condition: A-: Near Mint, very light signs of handling Addition...
Screen
Portraits: Anne
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz uses outline drawings, called “cartoons”, as templates to transfer full size images onto the canvas prior to painting. Rendered in red chal...
Etching
Yellow Flags 3
By Alex Katz
Located in Miami, FL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION Alex Katz Yellow Flags 3 2020 Archival pigment ink on Innova Etching Cotton Rag 315 gsm fine art paper 33 x 22 in. Edition of 15...
Archival Pigment
Portraits: Jessica
By Alex Katz
Located in New York, NY
Alex Katz uses outline drawings, called “cartoons”, as templates to transfer full size images onto the canvas prior to painting. Rendered in red chal...
Etching
$32,066
Yellow Flags 4 - 21st Century, Alex Katz Landscape Print, Orang, Yellow, Flowers
By Alex Katz
Located in Köln, DE
Yellow Flags 4 - 21st Century, Alex Katz Landscape Print, Orange, Yellow, Flowers, "Yellow Flags 4" is one of Alex Katz's famous flower prints. His flowers are the most reduced form...
Etching, Aquatint