Transcendent Artist: Josef Kote Returns to Ocean Galleries with His New Exhibition
Seven Mile Beach
Artist Josef Kote returns to Ocean Galleries with paintings that radiate light and distinctive color on display in his new exhibition, “Transcended.”
Art lovers will have the opportunity to meet Kote and view his works during receptions with the artist at Ocean Galleries’ Stone Harbor gallery, 9618 Third Ave., from 6-9pm on Friday, Aug. 5, and Saturday, Aug. 6.
If history repeats itself, Kote and “Transcended” will be warmly welcomed.
“People wait for Josef Kote’s shows,” says Ocean Galleries owner Kim Miller. “Josef is a spectacular artist who puts his heart into every piece; his paintings are stunning.”
What makes Kote’s art so special from an art gallery owner’s point of view?
“Each tiny square [within Kote’s paintings] is created with great care,” Miller says. “Josef never uses paint out of tube. He mixes it … creating his own colors.” Not only that, “there’s Josef’s composition, his technique with palette knife and brush and the way he captures light.” Miller also mentions Kote’s gift for “creation of motion” in his paintings, like the motion the painter crafted within regional seaside scenes and cityscapes in “Transcended.”
Last, but certainly not least, the gallery owner notes Kote’s distinctive blend of art styles.
Development of his personal style, a blending of realism and abstract art elements, took time, perseverance and hard work, Kote says.
Here’s how the painter describes his artistic evolution:
“As an academically trained artist, I started out using my classical training.
“Painting something realistically, as ‘it is,’ was the easy part for me and very predictable. There is nothing wrong with realism, but I always wanted to try something new and more complex in order to challenge myself – to create works that would bring something new that would satisfy me.
“At the beginning of my career, I tried many things and the more I worked, the more I discovered my strengths, my weaknesses, and my tendencies. I practiced my craft for many years before I ventured out into the exploration of abstract and expressionism. Naturally, I exploited my strengths and moved on to the style that I work in now.
“Blending realism with abstract elements has been the only way I enjoy painting.”
Kote’s sixth solo exhibition at Ocean Galleries features New Jersey coastal scenes, Philadelphia cityscapes and a portrait of the artist’s daughter.
Commenting on Kote’s seaside scenes in a catalogue that accompanies the show, Constanza Ontiveros Valdes, an independent scholar of art, writes: “The turbulence of the sea is infused with an ethereal light that conveys a feeling of calmness and triggers our senses.”
Indeed, even as waves roll in and break on shore in Kote’s paintings “Rising Tide,” “Light on Light,” and “Fluidity,” one senses the sweet sensation of serenity.
“Transcended” will also feature a number of scenes from the city of Philadelphia that Kote created in response to “many requests for Philadelphia cityscapes,” he says.
“I truly enjoyed the light and the spectacular sunsets of the city,” notes Kote of his travels to Philadelphia several times in the past year. “Each time, I was amazed by Philly’s rich history and its architecture – a lot of gems to discover there.”
Kote transformed his amazement with Philadelphia’s history and architecture into captivating scenes that present the city as her best self.
In his “Utmost Splendor,” the artist positions the bronze equestrian sculpture of Civil War Gen. George B. McClellan, which stands guard at Philadelphia’s City Hall, front and center. A lovely sky and skyline with an American flag flying fill the backdrop. There’s also a sign that marks one of many local Independence Day celebrations.
In another painting, “The Journey to Light,” one of City Hall’s massive walkway arches frames a pair of silhouettes as they pass through the shady archway into the light of Broad Street.
More remarkable light can be found in the artist’s “Sunset in Philadelphia” as seen from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge’s walking ramp that is subtly visible in the painting.
A nearly full view of this bridge that plenty of Pennsylvanians cross on their way to the Jersey Shore can be seen in Kote’s painting, “Benjamin Franklin Bridge.” A detailed assortment of recreational boats docked on the Delaware River sit in the foreground as the Ben Franklin stands solidly in the background below an intricately crafted, partly cloudy sky.
“This new body of work articulates my belief in the power of light and how the light I use in my paintings conveys emotion, thought and mood,” Kote says of his Philadelphia scenes. “Each painting tells stories inspired mostly by the light. I only hope that when people stand in front of my work, they’ll feel the power of light … the same as I do.”
Kote demonstrates his gift for portrait painting in “Serenely.”
This portraiture of his daughter focuses on an elegantly dressed woman in white lace who is seemingly pondering. Earlier mentioned scholar of art Valdes writes of the “contrast” between this painting’s “classical referents,” which are much like “composition layouts of Renaissance masters,” with “the completely abstract and highly textured nature of the painting’s background.”
The artist describes his portrait “Serenely” as “serenely beautiful” and offers further insights: “For me, it’s not just a portrait, but something more than that; it’s the abstract qualities and colors that give life and meaning to the whole painting.”
Considerable relocations and life experiences “definitely affected my perception of life and my work,” the painter says. Kote was born, educated and began his career in Albania before moving to Greece in the late 1990s and living there for 10 years. From Greece, Kote moved to Toronto and then on to New York City in 2009. He now works in his Connecticut studio.
“My travels and life experiences opened up a whole new artistic world and offered me a fresh perspective and inspiration on different forms,” Kote muses. “All experiences allowed me to gain a fresh outlook on new cultures and environments, push my art and myself to a new level and reinvent myself many times.”
Kote selected the title “Transcended” for his exhibition. “’Transcended’ will likely mean something different to each and every person,” he says, “but for me it is enjoying the creative process and overcoming difficulties and challenges in the art-making process.”
Another definition of “transcend,” one offered by Merriam-Webster, might come to mind for those who take the time to view Kote’s paintings at Ocean Galleries. As an intransitive verb, “transcend” means “to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits.”
There’s nothing ordinary about paintings by Josef Kote. No wonder art lovers wait for Kote’s shows to open. Most people instinctively recognize excellence when they see it.
