Alex Katz Crystallizing the Ephemeral: and the Art of Capturing Time

By Sunghwa Kim

Alex Katz’s latest solo exhibition focuses on his preparatory works, featuring intimate, small-scale paintings such as Study for Trees (2025). For Katz, these smaller paintings serve as an essential creative laboratory to gently capture the fleeting nature of his subjects. Rendered intuitively in a single, fluent breath, these scenes beautifully crystallize transient moments—such as the shimmering Maine sunlight and the gentle sway of tree branches—giving them an enduring, timeless presence.

Central to this process is his signature "wet-on-wet" technique, where fresh layers of paint are applied before the underlayer dries. The vivid, definitive brushstrokes left by this method create a captivating visual vitality, infusing his beloved subjects—friends, vibrant blossoms, and serene forests—with a remarkable sense of life.

Furthermore, the exhibition showcases three monumental pieces from his renowned Lilies series, offering viewers a rare opportunity to observe how the master meticulously refines and sculpts forms through his unique artistic language. Katz, who famously asserts that "only the present truly exists, rather than the past or the future," has steadfastly developed his distinct figurative style over the decades. Even during the height of Abstract Expressionism’s dominance, he confidently embraced his vision, charting his own course with unwavering dedication to the pure joy of painting.