Design inspiration from a 1969 Painting by Alex Katz

When abstract expressionism was popular in the 1950’s artist Alex Katz followed his own path by painting realistic contemporary landscapes and portraits. As Katz developed his style his paintings grew to monumental scale. Using family and friends as his models, his son Vincent is shown in a detail of a 6 foot by ten foot double portrait of friends. ”Vincent and Tony”, 1969, is on exhibit at the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago

Katz paintings have been described as bright, realistic, contemporary, fashionable, stylish, hip and cool. What more could we ask for to describe the design of a room. Look to art and artists who are masters of color to expand your thoughts about interior design. An Alex Katz color palette is the perfect inspiration to develop color in an interior design plan.

INSTUDIO interior design directors Samuel Fleming Lewis and Stephen Kladder are always looking to art for inspiration. The two visual artists have a passion for museums and galleries.

In the detail of “Vincent”, Samuel envisions a coastal Great Room in colors and finishes of driftwood grays, golden ambers, pumpkins, silvery to navy blues, pale to deep corals, sandy browns, golden beiges, grayed whites and a hint of pale yellows as furniture, textiles, lighting and accessories.

When visiting a museum, instead of coming home with an art print come home with a palette.

For a wealth of Alex Katz paintings just Google his name, also see http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Cool-Katz.html#ixzz12kYh9AHE

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