Expanded Edition: Alex Katz, Red Coat, 1983

Feb 02, 2024

Welcome to Artobiography – your go-to source for the stories and insights behind the world's most captivating art.

Update: I've expanded the newsletter with two new sections aimed at enhancing your journey into art investing.

The first addition is "Art Market Insight." This section focuses on the financial aspects of the artists' work, including insights into auction prices and trends in market value. It's designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of the art market's dynamics.

The second new feature is "On Display Now." Here, you'll find information on current and upcoming exhibitions of the artists covered in the newsletter. It's a practical resource for those eager to experience the art firsthand.

With these updates, Artobiography will now be published weekly on Fridays. The goal is to offer you a more comprehensive view of the art world right in time to plan your weekend.

The first time I saw Alex Katz’s artwork was at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria. His pieces were incredibly striking, large with vibrant colors that were hard to forget. Ironically, I was introduced to his artwork in Europe, despite living just a few miles from New York City, where he has lived and worked.

The Artist: Alex Katz

Alex Katz, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1927, is a highly acclaimed American artist known for his distinctive portraits and serene landscapes. Raised in St. Albans, Queens, by Russian immigrant parents who were interested in poetry and the arts, Katz grew up in a household that nurtured his creative spirit.

During his formative years, Katz attended Woodrow Wilson High School, which had a unique program allowing him to split his day between academics and the arts. This early exposure to art further fueled his passion for the subject, and he knew from a young age that he wanted to dedicate himself to the pursuit of art.

However, Katz's mother expressed concerns that a career in art would lead to a difficult life for her son. Still, his family, particularly his father, who had an interest in fine art and architecture, supported his aspirations. Their circle of friends included painters. The family had a collection of Russian abstract paintings, exposing Katz to different artistic styles and ideas.

In 1946, Katz enrolled at The Cooper Union Art School in Manhattan, where he honed his skills and developed his unique artistic style. Coming of age during a time that bridged the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, Katz's work incorporates elements of both movements. His early influences ranged from television, film, and advertising, reflecting mid-century American culture and society.

Throughout his more than seven-decade-long career, Katz has produced a remarkable body of work that includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints. He gained recognition in the art world, and his paintings have been widely exhibited since 1954. Despite this, Katz's work did not receive widespread attention until later in his career.

Katz's artistic style is characterized by flattened surfaces, refined compositions, and a consistent economy of line. He employs wide brushstrokes and bold swaths of color, creating images that possess a modern and distinctive realism. His portraits capture the essence of his subjects with minimalistic precision, while his landscapes evoke a sense of tranquility and introspection.

Today, Alex Katz's artwork is celebrated and highly regarded. His contributions to the art world have earned him numerous accolades and exhibitions worldwide.

Original video: Artcity NY - Alex Katz - 02 Career

The Art: Red Coat

Alex Katz’s Red Coat stands out for its distinctive features, which are characteristic of his influence on contemporary art.

In Red Coat, Katz's signature style of bold and simplified forms is unmistakable. He has a way of flattening the visual space, reducing figures to their essential forms. This technique, especially evident in this portrayal of his wife, Ada, strikes a balance between abstraction and representation. Katz employs broad brushstrokes and swathes of color, resulting in a visually striking image.

The composition of Red Coat is another aspect where Katz’s artistic vision shines. He has a knack for cropping and magnifying his subjects, bringing them up close and personal to the viewer. In this painting, Ada’s face is positioned front and center, dominating the frame and capturing the viewer’s gaze. This positioning lends an air of mystery to the portrait, as Ada’s expression remains elusive, adding a layer of emotional depth.

Art Market Insights

This is a new section.

Many people think they need to be millionaires to start investing in art, but that’s simply not true. Contrary to popular belief, you can start with just a few hundred dollars because you can buy lithographs, etchings, posters, and other mediums. You don’t have to purchase original oil paintings.

The art market is massive. It’s a $1.7 trillion asset class, so you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!

The key to getting started in investing in art is to learn as much as you can about the art world. Visit local galleries and see what they have to offer. If you can’t do that, don’t worry—I'm here to bring the art world to you.

In this section, and soon on Instagram as well, I will share information on the latest sales of the artists’ works. I will also provide projections of how much the artwork is worth today based on the econometric data I subscribe to for these purposes.

Auction History: Red Coat by Alex Katz was last auctioned at Sotheby's in New York on April 20, 2016.

The version that was sold was a screenprint in colors on Stonehenge paper. It was signed and was #60 in a limited series of 73. The final price: $20,000.

Analysis: Since its auction, Red Coat has shown a notable trend in its market value. The artwork's value has fluctuated over the years, reflecting the dynamic nature of the art market and the varying degrees of interest in Alex Katz's works. The piece's peak valuation in 2023 at $36,000 demonstrates a growing appreciation for Katz's distinctive style, particularly for collectors interested in the evolution of modern portraiture.

On Display Now

Alex Katz’s work can currently be found at the following exhibitions:

Hidden Gems
Housatonic Museum Of Art (Bridgeport | Connecticut | USA)
Sep 13, 2023 - Feb 02, 2024
Recent Acquisitions Autumn 2023
Gallery Ludorff (Düsseldorf | Germany)
Oct 25, 2023 - Feb 03, 2024
Drawn into the Present: Portraits on Paper
Thaddaeus Ropac, London (Mayfair | London | UK)
Dec 14, 2023 - Feb 09, 2024
This is the Color of My Dreams
Sotheby's Aspen (Aspen | Colorado | USA)
Dec 21, 2023 - Feb 11, 2024
Lasting Impressions: Works On Paper
Qualia Contemporary Art (Palo Alto | California | USA)
Jan 07, 2024 - Feb 13, 2024
The Body Electric
Larsen Warner (Stockholm | Sweden)
Jan 19, 2024 - Mar 16, 2024
Alex Katz: Wedding Dress
Portland Museum Of Art, Maine (Portland | Maine | USA)
Jun 30, 2023 - Jun 02, 2024
Alex Katz: Repetitions
Colby College Museum Of Art (Waterville | Maine | USA)
Mar 31, 2023 - Mar 29, 2026

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