John Koch

Photograph of the artist, the Peter A. Juley & Son Collection, Smithsonian American Art Museum

John Koch was an American painter known for his evocative light-filled interiors and figurative vignettes that portray friendly relationships and close conversations. His paintings of nude figures, which often receive the most attention, are not provocative. Instead, they present relaxed nude couples sharing quiet, caring moments. As a realist artist producing art at a time when Abstract Expressionism received the most attention, Koch relied on producing commissioned portraits. His upscale New York apartment, shared with his wife Dora Zaslovsky, often provided the setting so he could carefully control the details and ambient light to fit the mood he wanted to achieve.