Frank Kozik

Frank Kozik (January 9, 1962 – May 6, 2023) was an American graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands. His album cover work included the bands Queens of the Stone Age and the Offspring. With his prolific output and connections in the music industry, Kozik helped revitalize rock poster art in the 1990s, and is regarded as a founder of the modern art print scene.[1] Later in his career he became a toy designer with Kidrobot.

Frank Kozik
Kozik in 2013
Born(1962-01-09)January 9, 1962
Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
DiedMay 6, 2023(2023-05-06) (aged 61)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationGraphic artist
SpouseSharon Kozik

Early life

Kozik was born on January 9, 1962,[2] in Torrejón, Madrid, Spain.[3] His father was an American serviceman and his mother was Spanish; they divorced before his birth.[3] 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.[4][5][6]

Career
Frank Kozik autograph on a Labbit (KidRobot NYC signing in 2010)

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.[5][6]

Kozik moved to San Francisco in 1993[4] where he started a print shop and founded Man's Ruin Records, which released more than 200 records by punk and alternative bands. He folded the label in 2001 to focus on fine art.[5][4]

As his profile grew, Kozik worked with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melvins, The Offspring, Butthole Surfers, and Helmet.[7]

Kozik designed many album covers, including Queens of the Stone Age's 1998 self-titled debut and The Offspring's Americana. He directed the music video for Soundgarden's song "Pretty Noose".[8]

Kozik published several books including Man's Ruin: Posters and Art by Frank Kozik[9] and Desperate Measures Empty Pleasures.[10] As a toy designer, Kozik created the Smorkin' Labbit, a popular series of vinyl art figures,[11][12] and was the creative director of Kidrobot, a producer and retailer of designer toys.[13] Although primarily known for his screen prints, a rare painting of the Labbit sold on the TV blind auction show Four Rooms for £4,000.[14]

Kozik was also a member of the Stuckism art movement.[15]

Death

Kozik died in San Francisco on May 6, 2023, at age 61. He is survived by his wife Sharon.[2][5][16][17]

Bibliography
  • Man's Ruin: The Posters & Art of Frank Kozik (Last Gasp, 1995)[18]
  • An Ode to Joy: Posters, Prints and Other Work of Frank Kozik (Last Gasp, 1999)[19]
  • Desperate Measures: Posters Prints and More (Last Gasp, 2002)[20]
  • Plasticland (Dark Horse Comics, 2007)[21]

See also

References
  1. Whittaker, Richard (May 12, 2023). "Frank Kozik (1962-2023), the Man Behind a Poster Revolution". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  2. Yossman, K. J. (May 10, 2023). "Frank Kozik, Iconic Graphic Artist Behind Album Covers Including the Offpsring's 'Americana,' Dies at 61". variety.com. Variety. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. Schwartz, Eileen (January 1, 2001). "Poster Boy". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  4. "Biography". frankkozik.net. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  5. Pehling, Dave (May 9, 2023). "Acclaimed graphic artist and designer Frank Kozik dead at age 61". CBS News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. "Frank Kozik". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  7. Powell, Betsy (December 16, 1995). "Twisted take puts artist in demand". Calgary Herald.
  8. Harrison, Scoop (May 9, 2023). "Frank Kozik, Acclaimed Graphic Artist and Designer, Dead 61". Consequence. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  9. Snyder, Michael (July 6, 1995). "Kozik at Vanguard of Vinyl Resurgence, by Design". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  10. Sullivan, James (May 30, 2002). "Rock art, from cover to cover". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  11. Gene, Stout (February 18, 1994). "Poster Master Frank Kozik's Works Go On The Wall". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  12. "VeVe Welcomes: Frank Kozik". medium.com. Medium (website). June 30, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  13. Schmidt, Gregory (March 29, 2017). "Is It a Toy? Is It Art? Everyone Agrees It's a Collectible". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  14. Four Rooms. Series 3. Episode 23. August 2, 2013. Channel 4.
  15. "Stuckists groups worldwide" Archived July 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. stuckism.com.
  16. Kozik, Frank. "Family announcement on his official Facebook page". Facebook. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  17. O'Neal, Sean (May 11, 2023). "Frank Kozik Perfected the Rock Poster Into a Fine and Filthy Art". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  18. Kozik, Frank (1995). Man's Ruin: The Posters & Art of Frank Kozik. Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-397-8. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  19. Kozik, Frank (1999). An Ode to Joy: Posters, Prints and Other Work of Frank Kozik. Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-457-9. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  20. Kozik, Frank (2002). Desperate Measures: Posters Prints and More. Original Artists Series. Last Gasp. ISBN 978-0-86719-515-6. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  21. Kozik, Frank (2007). Plasticland. Dark Horse Comics. ISBN 978-1-59307-875-1. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
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