R.B. Kitaj Art

Born Ronald Brooks Kitaj in Cleveland, Ohio, to an American family with Viennese and Russian-Jewish heritage, R.B. Kitaj (1932-2007) is widely regarded as one of the most erudite and iconographically complex artists of the last half-century; he is subsequently considered to be a key figure in the canon of European and American art. His expressive, figurative works combine aspects of contemporary life with art historical and socio-political references, sexuality,self-analysis and Judeo-Christian mysticism embedded in the early 20th-century literature of Franz Kafka and Walter Benjamin. While his work has occasionally been considered controversial, he is undeniably viewed as a master draughtsman with a commitment to figurative art. His highly personal paintings, prints and drawings reflect his deep interest in history; cultural, social and political ideologies; and issues of identity. As a child, attended art classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Following his studies at Cooper Union in New York and the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, he spent two years in Europe serving for the United States Army. He then continued his studies at the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University, and at the Royal College of Art in London. He enrolled at the latter in 1959, where he became a close friend of David Hockney, Patrick Caulfield and Allen Jones, he was inititally identified as a pioneer of Pop Art, before recontextualising himself as a School of London painter alongside admired contemporaries that included Auerbach, Bacon, Freud and Kossoff. Kitaj remained in in London for 40 years, until 1997 when he moved to Los Angeles. He died at his home there in 2007, one week before his 75th birthday. Despite his early association with Pop Art, Kitaj had limited interest in the culture of mass media and instead works from pictorial and literary sources. Renowned for his use of intellectually stimulating historical references, Kitaj's work was often inspired by late 19th-century French art and by his Jewish identity. His paintings and prints add up to an extraordinary body of work; the latter function as an illustrated journal of an artist's life, characterized by a quest for new subject matter and innovative ways to depict it. R.B. Kitaj remains one of the most influential artists since the late 1950's and continues to link personal history with contemporary art through his unique vision.

Artist: R.B. Kitaj

R.B. KitajPerforming Arts Center, Modern Art Screenprint by RB Kitaj, 1983

$1,800

Performing Arts Center, Modern Art Screenprint by RB Kitaj

By R.B. Kitaj

Located in Long Island City, NY

This print by R.B. Kitaj is part of an 8-piece portfolio published by The New York Graphic Society in 1983 and includes works from Red Grooms, Robert Indiana, Alex Katz, R.B. Kitaj, ...

Category

1980s Modern R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

R.B. KitajCap'n A.B. Dick (B) Pale pink and raspberry sailor's portrait drawing R.B. Kitaj, 1975

$1,200

Cap'n A.B. Dick (B) Pale pink and raspberry sailor's portrait drawing R.B. Kitaj

By R.B. Kitaj

Located in New York, NY

Kitaj’s drawing on pink paper is of a man in profile, wearing a sou’wester: a fisherman’s collapsible rain hat. The image is a wry portrait, ostensibly of Albert Blake...

Category

1970s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph

R.B. KitajBaghdad Screen Print by Kitaj, Contemporary, Signed AP, 1972, 1972

$1,200Sale Price|20% Off

Baghdad Screen Print by Kitaj, Contemporary, Signed AP, 1972

By R.B. Kitaj

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Six color screen-print and photo-screenprint. Signed and numbered AP in pencil by Kitaj in the top right corner. Printed at Kelpra Studio, London and published by Marlborough Graphi...

Category

1970s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Brice MardenDistant Muses, 2000

$6,000

H 23.5 in W 19.13 in

Distant Muses

By Brice Marden

Located in New York, NY

Brice Marden Distant Muses 2000 Screenprint 23 1/2 x 19 1/8 inches; 60 x 49 cm Edition of 300 Signed, dated, and numbered in graphite (lower recto) Frame available upon request Available from Matthew Marks...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Steve McCurryAfghan Girl iconic poster: Sharbat Gula, Pakistan (Hand Signed by Steve McCurry), 1984

$795

H 24 in W 20 in

Afghan Girl iconic poster: Sharbat Gula, Pakistan (Hand Signed by Steve McCurry)

By Steve McCurry

Located in New York, NY

Steve McCurry Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl, Pakistan (Hand Signed), 1984 Offset Lithograph poster Hand signed by the photographer in black felt pen on the front 24 × 20 inches Unframed...

Category

1980s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Felt Pen, Lithograph, Offset

Gary Bukovnik"Dahlias" by Gary Bukovnik (Flowers, Still life, Watercolor, Paint, Print), 2001

$1,400

H 40 in W 27 in

"Dahlias" by Gary Bukovnik (Flowers, Still life, Watercolor, Paint, Print)

By Gary Bukovnik

Located in New York, NY

This image features a colorful arrangement of pink, red and purple flowers by American artist, Gary Bukovnik. Bukovnik is an internationally acclaimed painter and printmaker who prim...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Chuck ClosePhil, Pop print Portrait of Philip Glass, pencil numbered ed of 1000, w/envelope, 1976

$2,500

H 8 in W 8 in

Phil, Pop print Portrait of Philip Glass, pencil numbered ed of 1000, w/envelope

By Chuck Close

Located in New York, NY

Chuck Close Phil, 1976 Limited Edition rubber stamp print on Strathmore 3-Ply Paper. Pencil numbered from the edition of 1000 on the verso. Artist's printed copyright name verso. Acc...

Category

1970s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Ming WaiLittle Chinese Girl, 1982

$400

H 28 in W 24.5 in D 0.01 in

Little Chinese Girl

By Ming Wai

Located in San Francisco, CA

This artwork "Little Chinese Girl" 1982 in a color off set lithograph by renown Chinese/American artist Wai Ming A.K.A Lo Hing Kwok, b.1938. It is hand signed an inscribed A.C (Hors Commerce) in pencil by the artist. The image size is 24.5 x 22 inches, sheet size is 28 x 24.5 inches. It is in excellent condition, has never been framed. About the artist: Wai Ming, was born in Canton, South China on November 11, 1938, the son of a school master with nine children. Extremely poor as a child, he was raised in Hong Kong enduring many hardships amidst a chaotic environment of war and refugee settlements. Wai Ming's love for art flourished and he developed his drawing techniques without any art education, just painting what he saw. In the 1960s, Ming found representation in Hong Kong and also took the unusual step of opening his own gallery to display his work in. His primary interest being to capture images of life in fishing villages, or 'fish-folk', who have retained traditional Chinese culture, his work was at home with the sensibilities of many art buyers in Hong Kong. Crossing the ocean in his mid-30s, Wai Ming arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong in 1974. There, he experienced initial resistance from galleries and the official art world for a variety of reasons, but was ultimately embraced by dealer Jack Swanson...

Category

Late 20th Century Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph

Jules OlitskiLuminous Dawn Screen Print, Contemporary, Signed, 1990s, 108 Edition, 1997

$2,700

H 25 in W 35 in

Luminous Dawn Screen Print, Contemporary, Signed, 1990s, 108 Edition

By Jules Olitski

Located in New York, NY

This screen print, printed on Arches Cover White paper, is hand signed and numbered in graphite. The edition size is 108 plus 18 Artist Proofs. This print comes directly from the publisher, Lincoln Center Editions...

Category

1990s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Elizabeth CatlettVENDEDORA Signed Lithograph, Portrait Seated Young Girl, Mexican Fruit Seller, 2001

$3,650

H 31.25 in W 27.75 in

VENDEDORA Signed Lithograph, Portrait Seated Young Girl, Mexican Fruit Seller

By Elizabeth Catlett

Located in Union City, NJ

VENDEDORA, a limited edition lithograph by the renowned American-born Mexican sculptor and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett(b.1915–2012) depicts a sensitive black and white portrait of a...

Category

Early 2000s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph

Richard Serra"Still from Hand Catching Lead" by Richard Serra (Lithograph, Photograph, Hand), 2009

$3,000

H 18 in W 21 in

"Still from Hand Catching Lead" by Richard Serra (Lithograph, Photograph, Hand)

By Richard Serra

Located in New York, NY

Richard Serra (1939 - 2024) was one of the most important artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Serra experimented with sculpture, printmaking and video in pursuit of his investiga...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph, Screen

Joy Laville"Reclining Nude" unframed signed silkscreen artist proof by artist Joy Laville, Unknown

$700

H 37.75 in W 50 in

"Reclining Nude" unframed signed silkscreen artist proof by artist Joy Laville

By Joy Laville

Located in Boca Raton, FL

"Reclining Nude" unframed silkscreen artist's proof on fine art paper by artist Joy Laville. Hand signed H J Laville lower right recto. A/P hand written lower left recto. Depicts a b...

Category

1990s Modern R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Elizabeth CatlettVENDEDORA Signed Lithograph, Portrait Seated Young Girl, Mexican Fruit Seller, 2001

$2,560Sale Price|20% Off

H 28.25 in W 21.25 in

VENDEDORA Signed Lithograph, Portrait Seated Young Girl, Mexican Fruit Seller

By Elizabeth Catlett

Located in Union City, NJ

VENDEDORA, a limited edition lithograph by the renowned American-born Mexican sculptor and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett(b.1915–2012) depicts a sensitive black and white portrait of a...

Category

Early 2000s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph

Bob GruenDebbie Harry - NYC - 1977, 2014

$5,500

H 54 in W 40 in

Debbie Harry - NYC - 1977

By Bob Gruen

Located in North Adams, MA

Silkscreen in 10 colors 40 x 54 inches 2-Ply Museum Board Edition of 50 2014 Bob Gruen is one of the most well-known and respected photographers in rock and roll. From John Lennon t...

Category

1970s Contemporary R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Screen

Larry ClarkThe Smell of Us (Hand signed poster), 2015

$550

H 10.5 in W 15.5 in

The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster)

By Larry Clark

Located in New York, NY

Larry Clark The Smell of Us (Hand signed poster), 2015 Offset lithograph poster Pencil signed by Larry Clark on the back 10 1/2 × 15 1/2 inches Unframed Limited edition poster; hand ...

Category

2010s Realist R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Previously Available Items

R.B. KitajFemme de Peuple II (hand signed and inscribed to poet Robert Duncan), 1978

Sold

H 36 in W 6 in

Femme de Peuple II (hand signed and inscribed to poet Robert Duncan)

By R.B. Kitaj

Located in New York, NY

R. B. Kitaj Femme de Peuple II (hand signed and inscribed to poet Robert Duncan), 1978 Offset Lithograph (hand signed and inscribed to poet Robert Duncan) Hand signed and inscribed o...

Category

1970s Pop Art R.B. Kitaj Art

Materials

Graphite, Lithograph, Offset

R.b. Kitaj art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic R.B. Kitaj art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of pink, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by R.B. Kitaj in screen print, mixed media, lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large R.B. Kitaj art, so small editions measuring 14 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Peter Phillips, Patrick Nagel, and Clemens Briels. R.B. Kitaj art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $800 and tops out at $4,000, while the average work can sell for $1,450.