Juxtapoz Journal – RIP, Frank Kozik, Iconic Bay Space Poster Artist and Designer

Frank Kozik, very long time Bay Space resident and iconic determine within the Juxtapoz artwork scene, died abruptly Saturday Might 6, 2023.

“I’m not an artist” was the opening line within the introduction he wrote for his very first characteristic within the Juxtapoz Winter 1997 challenge. “Different phrases might effectively apply: designer, illustrator, poster geek, appropriator, hack, however not artist. To me that time period must be reserved for the handful of distinctive people that may take vitality and matter, attain into themselves and produce a piece of particular perception and wonder. I don’t do this” he continues. On and on he went on this means—self depreciation was his verbal medium.

I met Kozik earlier that very same 12 months. I used to be utterly intimidated by him. He was good-looking, gifted, owned a report label… and did no matter he needed to do. I needed to know him; was drawn to study 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 received 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 obstacles and challenged standard 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 an enormous 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—grew to become cultural touchstones reflecting his simple expertise for capturing and speaking the essence of insurrection and nonconformity. All through his profession he continued to collaborate with manufacturers and artists, regularly experimented with rising expertise. His unwavering dedication to pushing inventive boundaries and his designs have left an indelible mark on the world of artwork, design and fashionable tradition.

I removed that boyfriend, however I saved that framed piece of artwork. Regardless 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 adjusted 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 in the course of the pandemic. Frank would hang around each night time with us—a ragtag group of artists, all craving for human reference to one widespread curiosity: artwork. He was the identical: grumpy, harsh, and combative. He was additionally form, 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.