New York – Noted Eccentric Artist Morris Katz Dies

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    New York – Eccentric artist Morris Katz, in a career spanning six decades, used toilet paper to create instant art – and a lasting legacy.

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    The Polish-born Katz, hailed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s fastest and most prolific painter, died Friday after reportedly suffering a stroke. He was 78.

    Katz’s motto, as detailed in a book and his worldwide appearances, was simple: “Paint it good, paint it fast and sell it cheap.”

    Katz moved to New York with his family in 1949 and launched his unique approach seven years later – using only a palette knife and wads of toilet paper to produce his paintings.

    The rolls of bathroom tissue were used to clean the knife or create shadings and shapes.

    The artist was cited by the Guinness book after completing one painting – a child in the snow – in a mere 38 seconds. Katz sold more than 225,000 pieces of art in his career, setting another record.

    In 1987, during a 12-hour stretch at the Penta Hotel in Manhattan, Katz cranked out 103 paintings – and peddled 55 in a fund-raiser for the Boy Scouts of America.

    While his work often sold for $150 or less, Katz’s paintings appeared in museums worldwide.

    His technique made Katz a pseudo-celebrity, earning him appearances opposite Oprah Winfrey, David Letterman and Regis Philbin.

    Katz’s website boasted that he made more than 600 television appearances during his career. The artist kept galleries in Greenwich Village and Jerusalem.

    Katz web site: http://www.morriskatz.com/index.cfm


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    10 Comments
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    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    13 years ago

    BDE, he was very talented and entertaining.

    13 years ago

    He was amazing to watch. A real character!

    Boochie
    Boochie
    13 years ago

    Well the price of his art just jumped

    HeshyEkes
    HeshyEkes
    13 years ago

    I suppose with 225,000 paintings out there, none of my Morris Katz paintings will skyrocket in value upon his petirah. May he be a meilitz yoisher for klal Yisroel and he should merit oilem haboh for the many Jewish paintings that he left as a legacy.

    2tellthetruth
    2tellthetruth
    13 years ago

    BDE Just saw his work. Absolutely beautiful.

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    13 years ago

    My family and I used to enjoy watching him paint/entertain at the Raliegh Hotel during the 1980’s. He was quite the character with a very unique talent. BDE.

    13 years ago

    I was once at a Zichron Shlomo chinese audtion and he was there doing his stuff, painting and selling his artwork. He was absolutely fantastic.

    shimonyehuda
    shimonyehuda
    13 years ago

    why is he being called eccentric?

    cowfy
    cowfy
    13 years ago

    baruch dayin emess.wonderful jew.the funny thing about morris(moshe) was that he did’nt really accept the serious nature of his work.when i pointed out to him that his fast paintings were very similar to ancient roman wall frescos he wouldnt think about such comparisons.more then that he showed me certain paintings which were semi classical and didnt come up to the heels of his quick free work.i’m an artist and know a lot of fairly famous painters and everyone knew morris or knew of him.picasso said it took him seventy years to learn to paint as a seven year old.morris had that wonder about his work.

    BLONDI
    BLONDI
    13 years ago

    aw….bde.. he was definately a nice man with a great personality, and like he joked…pushing daisies now