R. B. Kitaj

R.B. Kitaj (1932–2007) was an American painter and printmaker associated with the School of London, a group of figurative artists in the post-war period. Born Ronald Brooks Kitaj in Cleveland, Ohio, he studied at the Cooper Union in New York and the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, before attending the Royal College of Art in London. Kitaj's work is characterised by a blend of figuration and abstraction, often incorporating historical, philosophical, and literary references. He developed a distinctive style that combined bold colours with complex compositions, and he frequently explored themes of identity, diaspora, and cultural memory, particularly related to his Jewish heritage. Kitaj's art was exhibited internationally, and he became an influential figure in both British and American contemporary art scenes. He returned to the United States in his later years, living in Los Angeles until his death.