Face Time: Famed Artist Mark Kostabi Bringing Unique Exhibit to Ocean Galleries
Rare. Beguiling. Brilliant.
Three words that describe both the artist, Mark Kostabi, and his collection of art at Ocean Galleries for a limited-engagement exhibit titled “The New Direction” on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28, with in-person appearances by the artist from 6-9pm both days.
“The pieces are just amazing,” says Ocean Galleries owner Kim Miller. “They are full of color, full of life, full of meaning.”
And she should know. Miller worked closely with Kostabi to carefully curate the one-of-a-kind, original artworks in the exhibit.
Known for his faceless figures, Kostabi uses these smooth, bold, surreal protagonists to create universally relatable images that transcend culture, race, and definition. The genius lies in the emotion these images, devoid of facial features or expression, can convey. Joy, sadness, grief, ecstasy, frustration, and love. It’s all there, without so much as a wink, whisker, or grin.
“The real thing that I think draws people to my work is that people can read their own stories into the faceless figure,” Kostabi explains. “For example, I did a painting recently of a woman with three cats that are cuddling up to her ankles. And people around the world said, ‘Oh, that’s me and my three cats.’ People relate to the imagery.”
That vibrant imagery will be front and center in “The New Direction” exhibit at Ocean Galleries.
“The new direction of my work is much more personal, and therefore more universal,” says Kostabi. “Themes inspired from my own life, including love, life in Italy, digital technology, social media, my life also as a musician, and the pressure to produce art because of growing demand, all factor into the body of work I’m sharing at Ocean Galleries. Despite the varied themes, my new direction in life is more focused and organized than ever before, fueled by the clear goal of sharing my ideas with as many people as possible and solidifying my position in art history.”
Indeed, Kostabi began establishing a presence in art history as soon as he burst onto the art scene as a precocious provocateur in the early 1980s. Raised in California, along with his brother, musician Paul Kostabi, by Estonian immigrant parents, Mark Kostabi was a college student when he began creating the faceless images that would become his hallmark.
“While I was an art student at Cal State Fullerton, I went to Los Angeles to show my drawings. The first gallery I walked into, my work was embraced by the dealer, Molly Barnes, and she started selling them immediately to the top Hollywood movie and television producers like Norman Lear and Billy Wilder,” Kostabi recalls. “These were just simple line drawings of the faceless figures, so I knew that communicated. I realized I could keep selling these drawings, but that wouldn’t get me enough money to move out of my parents’ house! So, I took the advice that I heard from many people who said, ‘If you want to make it in the art world, you have to move to New York.’ And New York changed everything.”
He moved there in 1982, and by 1984 was ensconced in the famous East Village art scene, where he established himself as a prolific, modern star who pushed the boundaries of art and commerce. In 1984, he won the Proliferation Prize, given to the artist who was in the most shows in New York.
By 1987, his reputation and artwork were circling the globe, with prominent gallery showings throughout the United States, Japan, Germany, and Australia, as well as numerous exhibitions in New York. In the 1990s, his work was widely exhibited in Italy, and by 1996 he established a second home in Rome. Today, he splits his time between New York and Italy, which he calls “the best of both worlds.”
In truth, Kostabi has always flourished in multiple worlds. He is both an artist and a talented musician, composing and performing his own music in concerts around the world. He is also both an artist and a businessman, succeeding in two realms that more often collide than coexist.
“Early in my career, New York press liked to point out how open I was talking about business, which is sort of taboo for artists,” he says. “But Picasso had a telephone, a lot of people don’t want to believe that. But he was a networker and did all the right things in his career, in addition to making great paintings.”
When he was asked to give a lecture for the Learning Annex about how to succeed in the art world, Kostabi titled his speech, “How to Become a Rich and Famous Artist,” and offered six rules to follow. What are they? He’s happy to share: “Make great art, live in New York City, circulate, be professional, have a story, get other people to work for you.”
Of course, none of the business works without the art, and Kostabi is considered one of the most important postmodernist visual artists. His works are housed in more than 60 museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the National Gallery of Art in Rome.
Incredibly prolific, Kostabi finds inspiration everywhere. “There are many ways I get ideas: art history, life, conversations, expressions,” he says. “I was in Rome recently and I saw a mother with her baby in a stroller. The mother was on her cellphone and she was pushing the stroller into curbs, and it was a really rough ride. But the baby didn’t care because he had a little cellphone, too. They were both oblivious to the physical danger of being so hooked on the internet drug. So that gave me the idea of painting something like that.”
Stark, poignant commentary on modern life and technology are frequent, purposeful themes for Kostabi. “I like art that provokes thought,” he shares. “It’s not necessarily a negative provocation. Sometimes it’s humor. Provocative is generally a good thing in art history.”
Kostabi’s own legacy in art history is still being written, as he continues to be fueled by limitless creative energy and fresh ambition.
“I want to do more monumental sculpture,” he says. “I’m doing more sculpture than ever, and there are some sculptures in the show at Ocean Galleries. But I would love to do some 10- or 20-foot bronze sculptures, especially in a prominent place in New York – that would be amazing. And I wouldn’t mind doing an epic mural at a public place like an airport.”
Creating titles for his paintings is yet another creative outlet – one he’s explored with a multimedia approach. “I used to be known for having a TV show called ‘The Kostabi Show,’ in which celebrities competed to title my paintings for cash rewards,” he explains. “I phased that out, but I learned so much from these brilliant intellectuals, that I now have complete confidence in doing the titles myself.” With titles such as “Prelude to a Pancake Breakfast,” “Delusions of Integrity,” and “Going Nowhere Slowly,” it’s clear that a touch of whimsy has always been central to the naming game.
In contrast, Kostabi is quite serious about his exhibits and fostering connections with patrons of his art. “I absolutely love it,” he says. “I especially like seeing fellow art lovers and I like to know where my work is ending up. So, when clients and guests ask me a lot of questions, fairly quickly, I’ll start asking them questions, too. I’ll say, ‘Where’s this going? Do you know what room it’s going in? What drew you to this painting?’”
Sometimes patrons tell very moving stories. “Things will happen like, an older person who tells me that there’s something about the angel in my painting that specifically reminds him of his wife, and he cried when he saw it. It’s very meaningful to me to know that my work sometimes connects on a deep, serious level as well.”
And Kostabi is looking forward to making new connections in Stone Harbor. “I can’t wait to meet the guests. I’m curious to know how my work will be received in Stone Harbor. It’s just a whole new experience. A new group of people. That’s exciting.”
The feeling is mutual. Kim Miller can’t wait to introduce Mark Kostabi to art lovers in the area. “There is meaning and interest and a story to each painting,” she says. “These are very rare pieces. I think people are going to love it.”
Just the Facts
Who: Contemporary artist Mark Kostabi
What: “The New Direction” exhibit featuring an exclusive collection of original artworks
Where: Ocean Galleries, 9618 Third Ave., Stone Harbor
When: May 27 & 28
Art will be on display throughout the weekend and patrons are welcome to peruse exhibit anytime during store hours, 10am to 9pm.
Receptions with the artist from 6-9pm each day. Event is complimentary and open to the public, though RSVP is strongly suggested.
How: RSVP for artist receptions at oceangalleries.com or by calling 609-368-7777. Walk-ins welcome as well.
