Kozik — Poster Pop’s 1st artist.
When Poster Pop began in 1997, the silkscreen concert poster phenomena of the 1990’s, reinvigorated by the posters of Frank Kozik, was in full swing. As a poster artist myself, I had the unique opportunity to witness and be part of the 90s poster art movement, as well as the beginnings of Poster Pop. I enjoyed the experience of working with Kozik, and launching Poster Pop with Kozik’s merch.
Kozik.
I remember seeing the posters of Kozik’s posters at record stores and record swaps. At the Pasadena Record Swap in 1993, I met Larry Finn, a concert poster dealer. Larry was selling all kinds of 60s to 90s posters. Along with his 60’s Psychedelic concert posters, he had these new, really cool, bold, silkscreen posters by Kozik and Coop, POG, TAZ, and others. These new posters were great. They had big, bold black-lines, shocking day glow colors, strong text, and amazing images. They stuck in your mind. They were great! I was hooked.
Starting out in Austin, Texas in the late 80’s, Kozik made his posters for small local clubs and bands. Kozik combined interesting images of American icons, put them into his work, and then bent them to his will. The posters boldly advertised each show, while communicating something to the viewer. People loved Kozik’s posters. Fans of the music wanted them. Fans of poster art wanted them. Bands wanted their own Frank Kozik Posters.
By 1994, other artists sprang up, including me, but none equalled the preeminence and impact of Frank Kozik.
Kozik states many times that his Posters were not “art”, but I for one, saw deeper truths revealed in his posters. Kozik’s 1994 Neil Young American Indian Poster has a clear meaning — American & Indian. Portraying Fred Flinstones, little buddy, neighbor, Barney Rubble as a black man with an Afro and a Machine Gun, revealed unspoken truths.
Kozik’s most famous 93 Soundgarden Pearl Jam Lush Ecstasy poster was impactful, especially when seeing the full sized poster in person. The Poster breaks thru, into your own face and being, just like seeing the bands live. Kozik’s posters then and now, continue to amaze, especially when you see them in person, full sized, with thick silkscreened color.
It just wasn’t Kozik’s images of say a cartoon squirrel popping out of an ace of spades —surrounded by lucky dice, or a wolf with the same lucky dice, on his tongue, or a doodle of a rabbit with a 5 o’clock beard smoking a cigarette, it was the subliminal meanings that Kozik caught hold of, and communicated. Kozik’s bold graphics, with the pop images of our lives, and blunt communication connected deep into us, beyond words — reminding us that we are all inside, just cute squirrels, or a bunny taking a cigarette break, or Elmer Fudd protecting his right to be drunk.
Like great artists, Kozik’s art and posters commented on things in our lives, we barely noticed, but were revealing and true…
Frank himself was like his art. He was direct, honest, and many times gruff. “Show me the money, bitch” was one thing I remember Frank saying, when asked about his approval on any new project.
Kozik made art prints and posters for notable bands, companies, venues and events: Anna Sui, The B-52’s, Beastie Boys, Cows, the Cult, Eddie Vedder, Green Day, Hellecopters, Helmet, Iggy Pop, Jane’s Addiction, Juxtapoz, Marilyn Manson, Meat Puppets, Melvins, Nirvana, NWA, Offspring, Pearl Jam, (us at) Poster Pop, Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Reverend Horton Heat, Rocket from the Crypt, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, and Stone Temple Pilots. Kozik also did ads for Absolut, Nike. He started his own record label, Mans Ruin Records in 1995, doing all the album art.
There are a lot of great articles to read about Frank Kozik, and his career. Please read, or pdf them for later reading:
Frank Kozik Perfected the Rock Poster Into a Fine and Filthy Art
By Sean O'Neal
May 11, 2023
Sorry Yogi
by RAOUL HERNANDEZ. Sept. 12, 1997
Austin Chronicle
Poster Boy
By Eileen Schwartz
January 2001
Frank Kozik Studio Visit for Nerdist Industries
Anna Newman
Youtube
Poster Pop
Poster Pop was formed to produce the art of Poster artists on Pop merchandise. We will cover the Poste rPop’s 2nd artist, Coop, and the beginnings of Poster Pop, in our next posts.
So, please keep tuned, and leave a comment.
Don’t forget to sign up at PosterPop.com, check out the merch, and get free stickers in the mail!
Art Merchandising Takeaways:
Do the art you want to do. Be great!
Make posters for local shows, and clubs. Having your art published, and being part of an art movement will allow you and your art to be seen…
Thank you.
Matt Getz,
Poster Pop