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Frank Kozik, very long time Bay Space resident and iconic determine within the Juxtapoz artwork scene, died out of the blue Saturday Might 6, 2023.
“I’m not an artist” was the opening line within the introduction he wrote for his very first function within the Juxtapoz Winter 1997 subject. “Different phrases could properly apply: designer, illustrator, poster geek, appropriator, hack, however not artist. To me that time period needs to be reserved for the handful of distinctive people that may take power and matter, attain into themselves and produce a piece of particular perception and sweetness. I don’t do this” he continues. On and on he went on this approach—self depreciation was his verbal medium.
I met Kozik earlier that very same yr. I used to be fully intimidated by him. He was good-looking, proficient, owned a file label… and did no matter he wished to do. I wished to know him; was drawn to be taught extra about him. Conveniently, I used to be slinging Juxtapoz advert area, on the time, and he was an advertiser shopping for these advert areas. So, I bought to know him. Additionally conveniently, my boyfriend was an enormous Jane’s Habit fan and Frank occurred to have a Jane’s Habit poster on the market. I purchased it, framed it, and gave it to him for his birthday. It was the primary piece of artwork I’d ever bought and it meant—and nonetheless means—quite a bit.
Past his artwork and artwork scene contributions, Frank Kozik was revered for his generosity and dedication to mentoring rising expertise. His work broke boundaries and challenged typical norms by pushing the envelope of what was deemed acceptable. His profession has spanned many years, throughout which he fearlessly challenged the established order. “It’s a giant world and I feel there may be room for everybody. I all the time figured that cooperation was one of the best a part of the underground scene…” For that purpose Frank discovered the backstabbing competitors he was noticing within the rock poster scene, in his phrases, “unusual.” I feel Frank was angered by those that didn’t share his punk ideologies—it was clear even his personal dance with capitalism aggravated him.
His work transcended conventional boundaries, mixing popular culture references, political commentary and a pointy humorousness. His collaborations with famend musicians—album covers and live performance posters—turned cultural touchstones reflecting his plain expertise for capturing and speaking the essence of rebel and nonconformity. All through his profession he continued to collaborate with manufacturers and artists, regularly experimented with rising know-how. His unwavering dedication to pushing inventive boundaries and his designs have left an indelible mark on the world of artwork, design and well-liked tradition.
I removed that boyfriend, however I saved that framed piece of artwork. Despite the fact that I lived in a crappy condo within the Tenderloin with discovered furnishings and milk crates for cabinets, I used to be now an artwork collector. I had a way of pleasure—and freedom—and a brand new understanding of what it meant to be an artist. Kozik believed in artwork accessibility, and all through his life he impressed and altered numerous numbers of lives, together with mine.
We misplaced contact after I moved to LA. However greater than a decade later, we reconnected in Clubhouse throughout the pandemic. Frank would hang around each night time with us—a ragtag group of artists, all craving for human reference to one frequent curiosity: artwork. He was the identical: grumpy, harsh, and combative. He was additionally variety, caring, and extremely delicate, A real ARTIST, simply as I remembered.
We misplaced a legend. —Lindsey Byrnes
Frank is survived by his spouse Sharon & their two cats.
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