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Alex Katz

10 june - 1 October 2023

Museum Voorlinden is proud to present a new solo exhibition of the legendary American painter Alex Katz. From 10 June to 1 October, you can see a special selection from the rich oeuvre of the 95-year-old artist, including iconic portraits, flat sculptures (cut-outs) and monumental landscapes.

© Alex KatzBlue Umbrella 2, 1972, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2023 – Private Collection, New York

The bright colors, smooth surfaces and sharp compositions. The cool abstract style, monochromatic backgrounds and monumental scale. One instantly recognizes the work of the legendary Alex Katz (1927). For nearly eight decades, he has been painting American culture and modern society. Like no other, Katz knows how to capture the ‘immediate present’ as he calls it. The painter is inspired by the formal language of dance, television, movies and billboards. Katz is considered one of the most important American painters of the 20th century. His work is praised for its unique style and technique and can be seen in museums around the world – and from June 10 at Voorlinden.

Alex Katz: ‘I like to make an image that is so simple you can’t avoid it, and so complicated you can’t figure it out.’


Order the catalogue!

Besides photographs of all the exhibition galleries and exhibited works, the catalogue contains two special contributions: the record of a conversation between artists Marlene Dumas and Jan Andriesse on the power of Alex Katz, with reflections on this by Marlene, written especially for this catalogue; and an essay by Barbara Bos, head of exhibitions at Voorlinden, on the influence of scissors on developments in Alex Katz’s style. Order the catalogue now at shopvoorlinden.nl.

Order the catalogue

 

© Alex KatzYellow Flags, 2011, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2023 – Collection of the artist
Foto: © 2011 Paul Takeuchi

Iconic portraits

Voorlinden celebrates the visual power of Katz’s paintings in the exhibition. It features both very early and very recent work, including portraits from the 1960s and monumental landscapes from the past decade. Highlights include the portraits Black Hat 2 (2010) and Blue Umbrella 2 (1972), which have traveled around the world, and the floral landscape Yellow Flags (2011). Also on view is the rarely seen double portrait Scott and John (1966). Voorlinden also shows works from its own collection, such as Twelve Hours (1984), an example of the panoramic group portraits Katz began to make in the 1980s and Homage to Degas (2018) with Katz’s frequently recurring theme of dancers.

Director Suzanne Swarts: ‘Katz is an absolute master of light. He knows what colors can do and has incredible aptitude. His paintings have such visual power that they sear themselves into your visual memory.’

© Alex KatzTwelve Hours, 1984, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2023 – Collection museum Voorlinden
Foto: Antoine van Kaam

Billboard format at Voorlinden

Katz lives and works in New York and Maine. He closely follows developments in the art world and continues to influence and encourage young talent. In 2019, he visited Voorlinden and the idea for an exhibition was born. The large halls of the museum in Wassenaar, with their high ceilings and natural light, completely dedicated to art: these are the perfect conditions to show his large paintings, the artist decided.

Head of exhibitions Barbara Bos: ‘They look super simple, but the paintings by Alex Katz are incredibly well put together. He knows how to create the perfect tension between color, composition and format.’

© Alex KatzPark Avenue Departure, 2019, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2023
– Collection museum Voorlinden Foto: Bram Vreugdenhil

Video: Studio Roodenburch
Music: Multicolor by Son Mieux


Image header: © Alex KatzBlack Hat 2, 2010, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2023 – The ALBERTINA Museum, Vienna – The Batliner Collection