Colby College Museum of Art exhibits the Works of Alex Katz

Waterville, ME - Alex Katz is one of the most important American artists of our time, and his impressive body of work constitutes a unique aspect of modern realism. In 1992 Alex Katz donated more than 400 of his works to the Colby College Museum of Art. The Paul J. Schupf Wing for the Works of Alex Katz, which opened in 1996 and presents ongoing selections from the Katz Collection, was made possible through the generosity of then Colby trustee Paul J. Schupf.

The Paul J. Schupf Wing for the Works of Alex Katz

In 1992, the Museum received a gift of 414 works by Alex Katz from the artist, and subsequently a wing comprising roughly 8,000 square feet was constructed to house this collection. The Paul J. Schupf Wing for the Works of Alex Katz, which opened in 1996, was made possible through the generosity of Colby benefactor Paul J. Schupf, who contributed the naming gift for the building. Through rotating exhibitions it showcases a diverse collection of the artist's work across media and is one of only a handful of museum wings dedicated to the work of a living artist. The Museum now holds nearly 700 works by Alex Katz.

Biography of Alex Katz

Alex Katz was born in 1927 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in St. Albans, Queens. From 1946 to 1949 he studied at the Cooper Union in New York City. Katz’s connection with Maine began in 1949, when he received a Cooper Union scholarship to the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. The school’s cofounder, Colby Museum benefactor Willard Cummings, introduced the artist to Colby in the 1950s, and Katz has continued his relationship with the College while a longtime summer resident of Lincolnville, Maine. Katz received an honorary doctorate from the College in 1984, has served on several museum committees, and currently serves on the Colby Museum’s board of governors. Katz is known for work that displays a shallow visual space, highlighting the two-dimensional nature of paintings. Though many of his works are portraits, he does not aspire to reproduce authentic physical features or personalities. Rather, these figures are treated as symbols and serve as vehicles for exploring the formal aspects of picture-making.

Founded in 1959 and now comprising four wings, more than 6,000 works, and more than 28,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Colby College Museum of Art has built a significant permanent collection that specializes in American and contemporary art.

The Museum serves both as a teaching resource for Colby College and as an active cultural institution for the residents of Maine and visitors to the state.  Visit :www.colby.edu/museum/