Alex Katz's Ariel 3 is a striking example of his minimalist portraiture, utilizing bold black and white contrasts to create a compelling and elegant composition. The artwork features a close-up view of a woman's face, focusing on her right eye, lips, and flowing hair. Katz uses clean, unmodulated black lines against a white background to define the contours and shapes of her features, emphasizing simplicity and clarity.

In Ariel 3, the woman's face is partially cropped, with only the right side visible. This compositional choice draws attention to the expressive detail of her eye and the gentle curve of her lips. Her long, flowing hair is depicted with smooth, sweeping lines that add a sense of movement and grace to the portrait. The simplicity of Katz's lines and the high contrast between black and white highlight the essential forms of the subject, capturing a sense of elegance and poise.

The minimalist approach of Ariel 3 allows viewers to engage deeply with the subject, appreciating the refined beauty and emotional nuance captured in the portrait. Katz's technique of reducing the image to its fundamental elements creates a powerful visual impact, focusing on the subject's expression and the interplay of light and shadow.