Alex Katz
(American, b. 1927)
Portrait Sketch, 1966
Oil on board, 12-1/8” x 16-1/8”
Gift of the Artist
66.6
Alex Katz is among the American artists in the mid-20th c. who ignored stylistic changes in modern art and developed a unique figurative style ultimately bringing him widespread recognition and success within the art world. Though in some ways superficially related to Pop Art, Katz’s style is more influenced by the hard edges and flat colors of Japanese woodblock prints. His subjects are most often his immediate surroundings including friends and family. Katz visited SUNY Oswego in February, 1966. He created this work, presumably a demonstration sketch, and generously left if to the college.