Frank Kozik (January 9, 1962 – May 6, 2023) was an American graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands. With his prolific output and connections in the music industry, Kozik helped revitalize rock poster art in the late 1980s and 1990s, and was a founder of the modern art print scene.[1][2][3] His album cover work included the bands Queens of the Stone Age and the Offspring. With his artistic versatility, he was also a pioneer in the designer toy movement, and later became the creative director of Kidrobot.[4][5]
Early life
Kozik was born on January 9, 1962,[6] in Torrejón, Madrid, Spain.[7] His father was an American serviceman and his mother was Spanish; they divorced before his birth.[7] Kozik spent his earliest years living with his mother in Spain, where the fascist regime of Francisco Franco and its iconography would later serve as an influence in his art.[3][8] In 1976, at age 15, he moved to Sacramento, California to live with his father. After dropping out of high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force at age 18 and was stationed in Austin, Texas, where he later settled.[9][10][11]
Career
Autograph on a Labbit (KidRobot NYC signing in 2010)
Rock poster art
After leaving the Air Force, Kozik worked as a doorman at an Austin nightclub, becoming part of the city's underground-rock scene. He first gained attention as a self-trained underground artist in the early 1980s, making flyers and posters for Austin punk bands.[10][11] In 1987, he won a local newspaper's "Poster of the Year" for a Butthole Surfers poster he designed, and this encouraged him to continue his work in graphic design.[12]
In 1991, after having been given the funds to start a silkscreen press by art patrons from California, Kozik began producing silkscreen posters for local bands, which became ubiquitous at music venues and record stores in Austin.[3] These posters caught the attention of bands that visited Austin during their tour, who in turn would commission him to produce posters for them, bringing him national fame.[3] In December 1993, the Rolling Stone dedicated a three-page article to Kozik's work calling him the "new rock-poster genius".[8]
Kozik was also a member of the Stuckism art movement.[18]
Man's Ruin Records and album art
Kozik moved to San Francisco in 1993,[9] where he started a print shop and founded Man's Ruin Records, an independent record label that released more than 200 records by punk and alternative bands.[10] Man's Ruin released vinyl records and experimental music by bands to cater to the underground market,[19] and eventually released CDs.[20] The label allowed Kozik to experiment artistically by creating the album art for its releases.[19] Most of the album art he produced was silkscreened and numbered in his print shop.[21] Among the notable releases by Man's Ruin were rare tracks by the Sex Pistols from their very early days.[22] Kozik folded the label in 2001 to focus on fine art and toy design.[9][10]
As a toy designer, Kozik created the popular Smorkin' Labbit, an unshaven rabbit that smokes, inspired by the Japanese Hello Kitty character around 1996.[12][27] Originally named the "Smokin' Rabbit", it was accidentally misspelled by a Japanese toy maker, and Kozik thought the new name was too good to let go.[12] In 2003, Kidrobot began making Labbits, which would start a long-term partnership between the producer and retailer of designer toys and Kozik.[28] Although Kozik was primarily known for his screen prints, a rare painting of the Labbit sold on the TV blind auction show Four Rooms for £4,000.[29]
In 2007, Kozik created his own toy line, Ultraviolence, for more experimental pieces that big companies might deem too risky.[9][12] In 2008, Christie's auctioned sets of multi-colored busts of Ludwig van Beethoven and Ho Chi Minh that were designed by Kozik, valued at between $3,000 and $4,000. The company acknowledged that the market for designer toys was growing.[30]
In 2014, Kozik became creative director of Kidrobot. He helped turn the company around by working with young, urban artists to design new toys.[5][31] In total, he designed over 500 toys.[6]
Kozik published several books, including Man's Ruin: Posters and Art by Frank Kozik[19] and Desperate Measures Empty Pleasures.[35]
Death
Kozik died by suicide in San Francisco on May 6, 2023, at age 61.[4] He is survived by his wife Sharon.[6][10][36][8]
Legacy
Kozik's influence on various fields of art, particularly rock poster art and toy design, has been immense. Austin Chronicle writer Tim Stegall has described Kozik as "the graphic and aesthetic conscience of our generation".[3] Artist Shepard Fairey, quoted in The New York Times, referred to Kozik as "the punk rock Warhol".[4] Fairey added: "Even his most famous character, Labbit, it might look cute, but it’s about subverting culture. Kozik saw his work as a Trojan Horse to grab people’s attention before reminding them that all is not perfect in paradise”.[4] Artist Ron English was quoted as saying in the same article: “[Kozik]’s the guy who was always there first [...] He’s the guy who paved the highway so a KAWS could run down it”.[4]
Regarding Kozik's untimely death, the artist Emek wrote on Facebook: “RIP to a true giant of the scene- art, cars, toys, sculptures, underground art, music, rock posters, album covers, record labels, music videos… he did it all, he influenced all, larger-than-life yet down-to-earth hero to many. Legend”.[16][37]
Bibliography
Man's Ruin: The Posters & Art of Frank Kozik (Last Gasp, 1995)[38]
An Ode to Joy: Posters, Prints and Other Work of Frank Kozik (Last Gasp, 1999)[39]
Desperate Measures: Posters Prints and More (Last Gasp, 2002)[40]
^ abcdKozik, Frank (April 30, 2012). "Toys in the Attic - Frank Kozik". BigTattooPlanet.com (Interview). Interviewed by Barbara Pavone. Chester, United Kingdom: Jazz Publishing. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
^Powell, Betsy (December 16, 1995). "Twisted take puts artist in demand". Calgary Herald.
