![]() “While I was an art student at Cal State Fullerton, I went to Los Angeles to show my drawings. 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. 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. ![]() 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.” “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. “The new direction of my work is much more personal, and therefore more universal,” says Kostabi. That vibrant imagery will be front and center in “The New Direction” exhibit at Ocean Galleries. And people around the world said, ‘Oh, that’s me and my three cats.’ People relate to the imagery.” “For example, I did a painting recently of a woman with three cats that are cuddling up to her ankles. “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. It’s all there, without so much as a wink, whisker, or grin. Joy, sadness, grief, ecstasy, frustration, and love. The genius lies in the emotion these images, devoid of facial features or expression, can convey. Known for his faceless figures, Kostabi uses these smooth, bold, surreal protagonists to create universally relatable images that transcend culture, race, and definition. Miller worked closely with Kostabi to carefully curate the one-of-a-kind, original artworks in the exhibit. “They are full of color, full of life, full of meaning.”Īnd she should know. “The pieces are just amazing,” says Ocean Galleries owner Kim Miller. ![]() 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.
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