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Lee Katz was Dr. Seuss’s lifelong friend whom he served with during World War II. Their enduring friendship ultimately set Dr. Seuss on a new course that would inspire his artistic output for nearly 50 years. 

Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) visited Katz’s home on the west coast after the war, finding the sun and views of the ocean so intoxicating that he proclaimed he wanted to move to California where he could walk around outside in his pajamas. That move proved one of the most inspiring moments of his life, with California’s flora and fauna becoming the inspiration for many of the most famous images and stories Ted would create.

Ted Geisel was a perennial practical joker, never missing an opportunity to poke fun at himself and those closest to him.  His iconic image of Joseph Katz is a shining, multicolored example of this.  In the historic biblical tale, Jacob bestows a coat of many colors upon Joseph to symbolize his chosen status.  Ted twists this story to honor and elevate Lee Katz as his most valued friend.

However, beyond the whimsy is something quite poignant: Ted’s Joseph Katz becomes a powerful image for us all to pay tribute to our most important friendships. 

This groundbreaking collection began with the introduction of The Indistinct Cat sculpture, launched on the eve of the Art of Dr. Seuss Collection’s 25th Anniversary. The Indistinct Cat is now joined by the rare and iconic Joseph Katz.

The acclaimed artist Michael DeFeo was commissioned to realize both works in three dimensions. DeFeo is most well-known for translating Horton and the Lorax into three-dimensional sculptures for the production of those two blockbuster films. Michael is currently working on the third and final sculpture in the first Secret Art Sculpture Collection.

To learn more about the artist, CLICK HERE.

When Lee Katz invited Ted to visit the west coast for the first time, Ted was smitten.  The sun reflecting off the water captivated him.  The exotic vegetation inspired him, and the weather was a welcome reprieve from the cold winters of the East Coast.  With Lee’s help and guidance, Ted moved to California in the late 1940’s.  His work began incorporating this new landscape, and the iconic images that would catapult Dr. Seuss to international fame emerged.

This image depicts the coastline outside Ted’s window and foreshadows the Truffula Trees that would appear later in The Lorax.

Firebird is an example of the grace and ease with which we can navigate our lives, despite the waves we may encounter. Inspired by the view outside his window, this work also appears to be inspired by the many friendships that help guide Ted throughout his life.

In this additional send up to Ted’s friend Lee Katz, he elevates Katz to archbishop status. Ted positions him in a kaleidoscopic prism of colors reminiscent of Wayfair’s Chapel which sat next door to Lee Katz’s California home where Ted visited after the war. It was there that Ted fell in love with California.

When Ted first visited Lee Katz’s home in the 1940’s, he fell in love with California and proclaimed that he wanted to live somewhere where he could walk around outside in his pajamas. Ted’s final book Oh The Places You’ll Go features a young boy doing just that - walking outside in his yellow pajamas experiencing all life has to offer. He wrote this final book from his hilltop studio in La Jolla, CA nearly 40 years after that first visit to Lee Katz’s home.