Alex Katz's Black Dress 2 Cecily is a captivating steel cutout sculpture that continues his exploration of portraiture and form. This piece depicts a woman named Cecily, elegantly dressed in a black dress and black heels. What sets Black Dress 2 Cecily apart is the lively brown hair of the figure and the subtle shading on her legs, which adds a dynamic sense of movement and dimensionality to the sculpture.

The choice of steel for the cutout highlights Katz’s signature flatness, translating his two-dimensional painting style into a three-dimensional form while maintaining the simplicity and elegance characteristic of his work. The sleek, metallic finish of the sculpture gives it a modern aesthetic and allows the figure to stand out with a crisp, clean silhouette.

Cecily's black dress and heels contribute to the sculpture's sophisticated yet understated appeal. The black attire contrasts sharply with the steel material, emphasizing the figure's outline and the elegant lines of her pose. Katz's ability to capture the essence of his subjects with minimal detail is evident in this work, where the focus is on the overall form and expression rather than intricate features.

The addition of lively brown hair and subtle shading on Cecily's legs adds depth and vitality to the sculpture. These details bring the figure to life, creating a sense of movement and presence that engages the viewer on a more intimate level.

Black Dress 2 Cecily is part of Katz’s broader body of work that includes paintings, prints, and sculptures. This piece showcases his versatility and his ability to convey emotion and character through minimalist forms. It reflects Katz’s interest in contemporary culture and the depiction of everyday life, capturing a moment that is both ordinary and extraordinary in its execution. The sculpture’s simplicity and elegance are hallmarks of Katz’s unique artistic vision, distilling complex subjects into their most essential elements and creating works that are both modern and timeless.