In The 'Flow': Josef Kote Returns to Ocean Galleries With His Latest Exhibit
Healing
There’s a quality about being near the ocean that’s impossible to harness. It’s not just the sights and sounds and scents. It’s an essence. A kaleidoscope of emotions that collide and coalesce. Photos don’t do it justice; writers don’t fully convey it.
And then there is Josef Kote.
Through his paintings, the Albanian-born artist doesn’t capture the coastline so much as he evokes the cascade of impressions it imprints on the minds and hearts of those who love it.
“There are no words for it because he’s so talented, so creative. His compositions are incredible,” says Kim Miller, owner of Ocean Galleries in Stone Harbor, where Kote will debut a collection of paintings in an exhibition titled “Flow,” on July 5 and 6, featuring receptions with the artist both evenings.
“These are original paintings depicting the beaches, harbors, and sightlines of Avalon and Stone Harbor,” explains Miller. “This is our eighth year of hosting Josef Kote for an exhibit. Each year he not only brings stunning artwork, but he also picks up fresh inspiration from his time on the island. Every year I say the same thing: ‘I don’t know how he does it.’ His quality never wavers, yet his paintings are always different. He’s always recreating himself, always painting something that people just have to have.”
In fact, the generous and talented painter has quietly utilized this demand for his work to give back to the local community for many years by donating artwork to Avalon’s Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children’s annual auction. Funds raised by the auction help the organization continue to provide all-expense-paid summer camp experiences for blind and visually impaired children. “Josef doesn’t hesitate to donate towards this great cause,” says Miller. “For some kids this vacation is the first time they’ll get to feel sand and the ocean. This is a very generous gift, and we really appreciate his consistent willingness to provide it.”
Beyond the philanthropic community, demand for Kote’s paintings is continually building. “People will reach out to us as soon as they hear about the exhibit,” says Miller. “And I can see why they are drawn to them. I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years, and he amazes me every time.”
The paintings created for the “Flow” exhibition include a wide variety of seaside imagery. “Many of the paintings depict the flow of water,” says Miller. “You can see how he captures it in every different form – from waves rolling into the soft surf at the shore, to reflections on the water, to boats creating tiny rippling wakes.”
Art historian Cinzia Franceschini describes the show this way: “Kote’s seascapes are magnetic. They hypnotize, like the rhythmic movement of the waves on the shoreline. Water, air, and colors palpably mix on the canvas, shaping fluid surfaces in which the boundaries evocatively dissolve.”
With acrylic paints, Kote uses bold swipes of brilliant color and sharp accents from a palette knife to capture the dichotomy that always exists around the shore. Calmly invigorating. Powerfully soothing.
The paintings in “Flow” combine Kote’s signature style with new ideas. “He’s always innovating, always creating a new color palette for his paintings, because he mixes all of his colors himself,” explains Miller. “His paintings are never the same. This is a whole different collection, full of fresh beauty and fascination.”
The painting titled “Flow” is a master class of motion and depth. It depicts the familiar scene of gulls gliding in unison over the water, capturing the frantic beat of wings in graceful flight, as the sea and sand drift into eternity.
In “Fragile Light,” the hazy glow of dusk allows imagination to wander, the images suggesting a poignant moment at the balmy close of a beautiful day.
While the exhibit is open from 10am to 9pm throughout the weekend, receptions with the artist on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9pm offer rare opportunities to mingle with Josef Kote and learn about his inspiration and artistic process firsthand.
Miller couldn’t be more excited about the show. “I just can’t tell you how proud I am to have an artist like Josef Kote, who paints images of the area where we live,” she says. “Every single painting in this exhibit is a creative masterpiece. I think that people are going to be amazed.”
Josef Kote’s “Flow” Exhibit at Ocean Galleries
Just the Facts
Who: Artist Josef Kote
What: Exclusive collection of paintings, created and curated for the “Flow” exhibition, featuring original artwork with some paintings inspired directly by Avalon and Stone Harbor.
Where: Ocean Galleries. 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor
When:
Exhibit: Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6. Art on display throughout the weekend. Patrons are welcome to peruse the exhibit anytime during gallery hours (10am to 9pm).
Receptions with Josef Kote: 6 to 9pm each evening.
Exhibit and receptions are complimentary and open to the public, though RSVP is encouraged.
How: RSVP for artist receptions at oceangalleries.com or by calling 609-368-7777. Walk-ins welcome.
Josef Kote: In His Own Words
Josef Kote was born in the coastal town of Viore, Albania and has been painting since childhood. At the age of 14, he won a national painting competition, which granted him entry into the prestigious National Lyceum of Arts in Tirana, where he trained for eight years. With this strong foundation, he developed a style of artistry that is distinctly “Kote,” combining smooth transitions of color with bold strikes of a palette knife and deliberate rivulets of streaming color to conjure timeless scenes. Kote’s art is in high demand around the world and coveted by collectors. With many paintings inspired by Avalon and Stone Harbor, the “Flow” exhibit is a can’t-miss event of the summer.
Here, he shares his thoughts and inspirations on his art, this island, the “Flow” exhibit, and artist receptions at Ocean Galleries on July 5 and 6.
Is there a particular inspiration for this exhibit?
“The ocean continues to be a source of fascination and a never-ending source of inspiration for my work; it feeds my soul. My artwork is also heavily influenced by my personal experiences and inner thoughts.”
How did you choose the title “Flow” for this exhibit?
“As an artist, creative flow is the state I’m always aiming for. While working for this new body of work, I often experienced a suspension of time, a sense of purpose, and being in a ‘flow state’ – pure bliss. Because of that, the creative process became deeply meaningful and that’s how I came up with the name for this new collection.”
Your paintings are so clearly inspired. How do you continue to find new inspiration in familiar scenes?
“Every time I visit Avalon and Stone Harbor, I spend time observing and absorbing the ocean, the play of light, the shapes of rocks, the movement of water, and the colors of the sky – the area offers endless subjects for artistic interpretation.”
What do you find most interesting about the Avalon and Stone Harbor area?
“The entire area is magnificent, but the quality of light and the atmosphere of both locations is what I find the most compelling. In my work, the process of exploration of light, color, pattern, and shapes keeps me engaged in every way, and I must thank Avalon and Stone Harbor for constant inspiration.”
What do you hope people feel when they experience your art?
“I’m rather simplistic in my beliefs and I want my art to evoke either happy or impactful emotions, a sense of nourishment and soulfulness. I truly believe that art is what we hear, feel, and experience – I want people to feel at ease, relieved, inspired, and hopefully they’ll form a personal connection to a particular piece.”
Are you excited about this upcoming show at Ocean Galleries?
“Absolutely. Sharing my work feels like sharing a piece of my soul. As a studio artist, I feel that each exhibition is my opportunity to meet art lovers, artists, art critics, and other people who support my work. I am filled with gratitude for this opportunity.”
