Early Years and the Prairie Landscape Alex Katz, born July 24, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, wasn’t destined for a life immersed in the vibrant hues of the art world. His early years were shaped by the quiet austerity of his Ukrainian immigrant family’s experience – a stark contrast to the bold colors he would later become synonymous with. His father, Odesa-born Dmytro Kurelek, had arrived in America seeking opportunity after losing h…