R.B. Kitaj © The artist
R. B Kitaj was a pivotal figure in British Pop Art, known for his intellectually charged approach to figuration. Born in Cleveland, he studied at Cooper Union, the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, the Ruskin School, and the Royal College of Art, where he emerged alongside David Hockney and Allen Jones. Blending bold colour with historical and literary references, Kitaj’s work engaged with themes of identity, exile, and memory. In 1976, he curated The Human Clay, defining the “School of London” and championing narrative figuration. His work is held in major collections, including Tate, MoMA, and The Met. Kitaj relocated to Los Angeles in 1997, where he lived until his death in 2007.
