Blue Flags is a typical Flowers print by US-american artist Alex Katz. For over six decades, Alex Katz has drawn inspiration from all types of flowers, transforming wind-blown tiger lilies, marigolds, roses, and petunias into iconic works of Pop Art. This resulted in important works such as Blue Flags and Summer Flowers. By the 1950s, Katz was frustrated that his portraits lacked a sense of movement, so he began painting the wildflowers he discovered near his summer home in Maine. “When I painted the first groups of figures, The Cocktail Party and Lawn Party, I felt they weren’t moving enough,” he said of that moment of inspiration. “And that’s one of the reasons I did the big flower paintings.” Over time, Katz’s floral renderings became more vibrant and lively, often with stems growing in all directions, petals cascading through the air and leaves scattered across the composition. “You can’t look at one thing for a long time, the eye is moving everywhere and in constant motion,” he explained. At a remarkable 180 inches long, Katz’s Red Tulips (1967) is among the artist’s top auction records and sold for $690,600 at Sotheby’s in 2007.

Blue Flags is a very special edition printed on Echizen Kozo Paper. Echizen kozo paper, also known as Echizen washi, is a traditional Japanese paper crafted primarily from the fibers of the kozo (mulberry) plant. Renowned for its high quality, durability, and fine texture, this paper has been produced in the Echizen region (present-day Fukui Prefecture) of Japan for over 1,500 years, making it one of the oldest and most revered forms of washi (Japanese paper).

Alex Katz / Pioneer of Pop Art

Alex Katz is especially famous for his figurative paintings: The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he was born in New York in 1927. As a pioneer of Pop Art, he always concentrated on the essentials and early on, he dealt with simplified forms and contrasting color compositions. His art is diverse, but always has beauty as its central theme. The artist can now look back on more than 200 solo and around 500 group exhibitions; his diverse works are part of over 100 collections worldwide. Alex Katz lives and works in New York and Maine.

In 2022 Alex Katz new graphic edition – The Flowers Portfolio was released. The portfolio includes the works Red Dogwood, Purple Tulips, Peonies, Goldenrod and Azaleas on Yellow. All of those Alex Katz prints are available for sale. 알렉스카츠.