Alex Katz cuts it

Discovering Alex Katz collages was a real revelation for me.  I thought all his works were these unique portraits where he captured this strong disembodiment, like animated mannequins, so strange and other worldly.

Then there’s these amazing collages, where he uses a wash to create backgrounds and colours and creates the most evocative images from the simplest shapes. I love the simplicity of it all but yet, it’s so compelling. My favourite is Man with Dog, 1955.

Lincolnville Beach at Sunset, 1959, Alex Katz, Cut-and-pasted paper and water coloured paper on water-coloured paper

Untitled (Rocks by Sea, Standing Woman), Alex Katz, 1958. Cut and pasted paper and water coloured paper on paper

Beach, 1957, Alex Katz. Cut-and-pasted paper and water coloured paper on paper.

Man with Dog, 1955, Alex Katz. Cut-and-pasted paper and water coloured paper on water coloured paper.