Born in New York, the painter, sculptor and commercial designer, Alex Katz studied in his home city and in Skowhegan. At the beginning of the 50's he was influenced by the work of Jackson Pollock and other Abstract Expressionists. In the mid-50s, he painted landscapes, interiors and human figures as well as collages. By the end of the decade he had developed his own style of portrait painting. In the 60's, Katz's work became more realist and was produced in a more impersonal style. At the end of the 80s, he had gained both critical and public recognition.
