About Andy

Andrew John Katz is a Maryland-based visual artist, graphic designer, music lover, and art educator living on the Eastern Shore. Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Katz now lives on Kent Island and teaches art in Annapolis, where he has inspired students for over two decades.

He holds both a BFA and an MAT from the Maryland Institute College of Art, majoring in General Fine Arts and Art Education. Katz blends his formal training with a lifelong commitment to self-directed learning, continually experimenting with new materials, techniques, and technologies to push the boundaries of his work.

Katz’s creative journey has evolved from black-and-white charcoal and graphite drawings to vivid watercolor paintings, and more recently, to innovative portraits rendered on corrugated cardboard — a surface he cuts, tears, and manipulates to add dimension and texture. His work pays homage to hip-hop’s golden era, transforming music and lyricism into compelling visual narratives. Inspired by artists like Edward Hopper, Joseph Cornell, Keith Haring, and Nick Bantock, Katz’s work balances realism and abstraction, with sharp, rich compositions that draw the viewer in.

His Hip-Hop collection is among his most recognized bodies of work, featuring portraits of legendary MCs and cultural icons, many of which are signed or inscribed by the subjects themselves — Chuck D, Rakim, Black Thought, and others. Katz’s passion for hip-hop has taken him from simply being a fan to collaborating with some of the culture’s most influential figures. His collaborations include curating content for PublicEnemy.com, creating promotional art for MCA Day in Brooklyn, and contributing to exhibitions such as Respect: Style and Wisdom at the Oakland Museum of California.

Through his work, Katz has met and collaborated with many of hip-hop’s most influential artists — Rakim, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, and more — turning his passion into a powerful form of cultural documentation. As a member of Chuck D’s artist collective mADurgency, he continues to create impactful art that challenges viewers to think, feel, and engage with the culture that shaped him.

When he isn’t creating, Katz shares his love for art with his students, bringing fresh ideas and cultural connections into the classroom. This online portfolio showcases his latest works, limited-edition prints, and Giclée reproductions, allowing fans and collectors to experience bold, thought-provoking visuals.