The Instant Art of Morris Katz

Exhibition Opening Admission: Free

“Painting,” according to Morris Katz, “is like shmearing a bagel.” A genuine performance artist, his standard routine would be to line up two dozen canvases and paint them all within the span of an hour – using only a palette knife and toilet paper – all the while cracking jokes and explaining his craft to rapt audiences. Called “a self-contained vaudeville act” by New York Magazine, Katz holds a unique place in the annals of the art world as a painter who not only worked with incredible speed – whipping up paintings within just minutes – but who did so while engaging his audiences with Borscht Belt style shtick and then auctioning the paintings off to all comers.

Join YIVO to celebrate the launch of our newest exhibition, The Instant Art of Morris Katz, with a reception catered by the Challah Fairy and exhibit tours offered by YIVO Senior Academic Advisor & Director of Exhibitions, Eddy Portnoy.

Exhibit courtesy of the Oeuvre Family Collection.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.