Alex Katz Chronicles the Changing of the ‘Seasons’ at MoMA
On view in New York City until September 8.
Few cities experience the seasons like New York. Whether frigid, temperate or ferociously hot, dealing with that interplay between quaint and downright apocalyptic is one of the hallmarks of being a New Yorker. Just ask Alex Katz, the beloved SoHo-based artist whose painted the faces and landscapes he’s observed in-and-around his community since the 1950s.
Just uptown at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Katz is showcasing four new monumental paintings that chronicle the changing of the seasons. Joining a series of over 100 works he’s created in his studio since 2022, Katz often begins through images he takes on his iPhone — later sketching out the observations that piqued his interests, which eventually develop into the massive wall-to-wall paintings on view at MoMA.
The resulting compositions appear as abstracted gestural marks, rather than a deciduous tree or lush landscape. “It’s the sensation of seeing,” explained Katz in a statement, where there is no clear beginning or end to the horizons depicted. His process is rather intuitive, finishing each work in a single morning. “Hold your breath and hope for the best,” he added. As the summer heads towards fall, Seasons too, will be approaching its final few weeks and will run through September 8.
The Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St,
New York, NY 10019
