Alex Katz, Visiting Artist Lecture 1964

In his fourth lecture at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (previous lectures in 1960, 1961 and 1963), Alex Katz comments on the importance of following one’s instincts with regard to pursuing art; the decision an artist must make between making art characterized by timeliness versus timelessness; and, in regard to the artist/dealer relationship, the need for the artist to control his own aesthetic rather than having it dictated to him by the market. Katz discusses his personal preferences vis a vis types of art and how those preferences have changed over time; addresses his perception of the differences between European and American art; and speaks at length about doing stage sets, particularly his work for Paul Taylor’s dance company. No slides were shown in conjunction with this lecture.