Paintings

Alex Katz Captures the Changing Seasons in Monumental Paintings at MoMA

August 26, 20243 Mins Read


Few cities capture the essence of the seasons like New York, where the shift from frigid winters to sweltering summers feels like a dramatic performance. For longtime New Yorker and iconic artist Alex Katz, this interplay between beauty and chaos has been a source of inspiration for decades. Katz, a SoHo-based painter renowned for his striking portraits and landscapes, has been chronicling the faces and places of his community since the 1950s. Now, at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Katz is showcasing four new monumental paintings that bring the changing seasons to life in a way only he can.

These works are part of a series of over 100 pieces Katz has been working on since 2022, blending his keen observational skills with a unique artistic process. Katz often begins by snapping quick images on his iPhone, using these snapshots as the initial inspiration for his sketches. From there, the observations evolve into the massive, wall-to-wall paintings now on display at MoMA, each composition exploring the beauty and complexity of nature in a dynamic and abstract form.

Rather than traditional depictions of trees or landscapes, Katz’s paintings take on a more abstract, gestural quality. His approach to capturing the seasons is all about “the sensation of seeing,” as he puts it. There’s no clear horizon or defined structure, just fluid impressions of the world around him. Katz’s process is highly intuitive—he often completes each painting in a single morning, adding a sense of immediacy and spontaneity to his work. “Hold your breath and hope for the best,” he says of his artistic approach.

Katz’s Seasons series is a reflection of the ever-changing world outside his window, where no two moments are the same. His use of vibrant colors and sweeping brushstrokes brings the energy of nature into the gallery, inviting viewers to experience the shifting seasons in a way that feels both familiar and completely new.

As the summer draws to a close and autumn begins to take hold, Katz’s Seasons exhibition is also approaching its final few weeks. The show runs through September 8 at MoMA, offering visitors a chance to witness the artist’s latest exploration of time, nature, and the city he calls home.

For those who appreciate Katz’s unique blend of intuition and observation, this exhibition is a must-see. Visit the MoMA website for more details on the exhibit and to plan your visit before Seasons wraps up.

 

 





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