Alex Katz, Visiting Artist Lecture 1967

Alex gives a lecture of his work talking about his paintings, drawings, collages, cutouts and paper collages. Katz explores a wide range of subject matter in his work including portraiture, figuration, landscape, and abstract motifs. In his cutouts, Katz employs materials such as masonite, brass, board and aluminum. Katz states how a good idea is also very important for him, usually representing about 15 percent of the art work he makes. Katz then begins to talk more specifically about his paintings, stating how he is interested in making large-scale lyrical paintings that are illusionistic and composed of a physical matter that seeks to always be complete. Katz also states how his paintings are a space that he strives to be more classical than romantic. Having this balance allows Katz to make sure that he is never developing one thing excessively, and also allows him to make sure his art is conscious and not obsessive.