Strokes of Genius: Josef Kote Returns to Ocean Galleries with His ‘Healing’ Exhibit
“To Begin Again”
“He’s one of the best artists I’ve ever seen.”
That is high praise for Josef Kote coming from Kim Miller, the owner and operator of Ocean Galleries in Avalon and Stone Harbor for more than 30 years. Miller is very excited for Kote’s return to the gallery for “Healing,” his exclusive exhibit of new paintings from Saturday, Aug. 7 to Monday, Aug. 9.
Hosting Kote is more than special for Miller. “To me, it’s a privilege,” she shares. “To say this is a rare opportunity is putting it mildly. His abilities are up there with the greatest. This is an artist who rarely shows. He is not doing a million shows with his artwork available everywhere. This is really special.”
Adding to the unique aspects of the exhibit, the new paintings were all inspired by and depict vistas and scenes from the local area. In addition to coastal scenes, the “Healing” exhibit will also feature paintings inspired by Philadelphia.
“He got absorbed in the city,” Miller says. “And the pieces show it in a very beautiful light. He has, again, outdone himself.”
Born in 1964 in the coastal town of Vlore, Albania, Kote has been painting since childhood and is known for his ability to infuse classical elements with modern sensibilities. He has mastered the art of exquisite contradiction. His paintings are vibrant, yet calm. Full of motion, yet still. Passionate, yet serene.
He achieves his unique effects through a combination of innate talent, intense training, and signature techniques, including dripping rivulets of color, and sweeping pallet knife strokes.
“He just really knows how to put a painting together, composition, light, color. In fact, he never uses the colors that come out of the paint tubes,” Miller explains. “He mixes his own colors and he experiments. So, each painting is different and the feeling from each painting is different.”
The art in the “Healing” exhibit will feature Kote’s distinctive style, with some new twists.
“He always reinvents himself, every year he creates a new show,” says Miller. “The palette is a little different this year. There is one painting entitled ‘Golden Hour’ that is a big vertical painting of a sunset. ‘Guided by the Light’ is also an amazing piece of people along the shoreline at sundown, and the colors in it are just beautiful. If you love beautiful paintings, you’re going to love him.”
The exhibit offers the special opportunity to not only peruse and acquire Kote’s masterful paintings, but to also meet the artist himself. There will be meet-the-artist opportunities on Saturday August 7 from 7-10 pm and on Sunday August 8 from noon-2pm.
“When you interact with him, he is really gracious and grateful,” says Miller. “He’ll talk to you and explain every little brush stroke in the painting if you want him to. He has that knowledge in his head. He studies art. He knows technique. He is just a true artist.”
Altogether, the “Healing” exhibit will offer a summer outing filled with culture, excitement, and beauty.
“To be able to walk in, have a glass of wine, chat with a world-renowned artist and look at beautiful paintings, it’s a really nice time,” says Miller. “It’s a real experience.”
Josef Kote: In His Own Words
Can you describe the inspiration behind the “Healing” exhibit? “I return to Ocean Galleries this summer with an exhibit of 18 works, entitled ‘Healing.’ Most of the works are inspired by my deep love for the ocean. I usually turn to water for a sense of calm and clarity. The ocean makes me feel free and brings peace and joy to my soul. Perhaps this is why I chose to characterize this exhibition ’Healing.’ ”
Your work is known for its exquisite use of light and shade. How are light and shade used to represent “Healing” in these pieces?
“When I’m painting, many of the images I create have a complex structure of light qualities in order to highlight specific points in my compositions and to express certain moods. As to how light and shade are used to represent ‘Healing’ in these pieces, I want people to feel things when they see my art and create their own narrative of what’s happening. One painting can tell many different stories depending on who sees it and how they connect with it. Since everyone has different experiences, they will also have different emotions about those experiences. So the viewer will have his/her own way to respond to what the art evokes in him/ her.”
During the pandemic, art – in many forms – was a comfort to people throughout the world. How do you believe art, and painting specifically, offer comfort or healing in difficult times?
“The stress of the pandemic left many people reaching for art and music to help them get through tough times. Many artists around the world found creative ways through social media to keep people connected. So, I believe that arts have played an extraordinary role in such unprecedented times; they helped people to ease some of the negative effects of isolation by offering hope and comfort.”
What do you like about doing exhibits at Ocean Galleries?
“I love Stone Harbor and I’m blessed with the opportunity to return to Ocean Galleries for my fifth year. Ocean Galleries, after all these years, has proven to be incredible to work with. They have found forever homes for so many of my works.”
The “Healing” Exhibit
Featuring original paintings by Josef Kote at Ocean Galleries: 9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor
August 7-9
The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public.
Artist Receptions
No reservations required
Saturday, Aug. 7 7-10pm
Sunday, Aug. 8 Noon-2pm
For more information about Ocean Galleries and Josef Kote’s “Healing” exhibit, go to oceangalleries.com or call 609-368-7777.
