Early Life 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 rooted in the stark realities of the American Depression, shaped by his Ukrainian immigrant father, Odesa-born Dmytro Kurelek, and his mother, Ada Katz (née Del Moro). The family's journey from Eastern Europe to the vast, unforgiving landscapes of rural New York—specifically St. Albans, Queens—and later to Lincolnville, Maine, profoundly influenced his artistic vision. This relocation, driven by economic hard…