Home / Arts and Entertainment / Katz at 99: A Dialogue with Matisse
Katz at 99: A Dialogue with Matisse
7 Nov
Summary
- Alex Katz, 99, exhibits alongside his admired master Henri Matisse.
- The exhibition explores resonances in form, color, and light between artists.
- Artists selected works from each other's archives for the show.
The Matisse Museum in Nice, France, is currently hosting "Henri Matisse -- Alex Katz: The Silence of Painting," an exhibition that opened recently and will run through January 18, 2027. The show pairs the work of 99-year-old American painter Alex Katz with that of French master Henri Matisse.
Curated by museum director Aymeric Jeudy, the exhibition explores the shared artistic paths of both figurative painters. Jeudy noted their similar approaches to color, architectural landscapes, and the integration of people and objects through light. Katz, who has held a deep admiration for Matisse since his youth, expressed initial nervousness about exhibiting alongside the master.
The unique exhibition was conceived through a mutual selection process. Katz was invited to choose works from the museum's extensive Matisse collection, including experimental pieces Matisse kept in his studio. In return, Katz permitted the museum to select pieces from his own archive.
