Alex Katz (b. 1927) is a figure painter who paints realistic portraits of friends and family. Throughout his career, Katz has been the recipient of numerous awards, including The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for Painting in 1972, and in 1987, The Queens Museum of Art Award for Lifetime Achievement. Katz was awarded the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for Painting in 1972. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Design, New York.