Pt 1. Kozik - Poster Pop’s 1st artist.
When Poster Pop began in 1997, the silkscreen concert poster phenomena of the 1990’s, widely knows as reinvigorated by the posters of Frank Kozik, was in full swing. As a poster artist myself, I had the unique opportunity to be part of this poster resurgence, as well as Poster Pop. Almost 30 years later, I enjoyed the experience of making posters, working with Kozik, and launching Poster Pop with The Poster art of Kozik and Coop on Pop Merchandise.
Kozik’s Art.
I remember seeing the posters of Kozik’s posters at record stores and record swaps around 1993. At the Pasadena Record Swap, I met Larry Finn, a concert poster dealer, who was to become by partner in my 1st concert Posters in 1994, as well as become the other founding father of Poster Pop. At that time, Larry was selling all kinds of 60s to 90s posters at the record meet.. Along with his 60’s Psychedelic concert posters, he had these new, really cool, bold, silkscreen posters by Kozik, 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 created his posters by combined interesting images of American icons, then bent them, to his will. The posters communicated something to people seeing them, while boldly advertised each show. People loved Kozik’s posters. Fans of the music wanted them. Fans of poster art wanted them. Bands wanted to be in a Frannk Kozik Poster.
By 1994, other artists sprang up, including me, but none equaled the preeminence and impact of Frank Kozik.
Kozik’s Art is not art?
Kozik states many times that his Posters were not “art”. 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 silk screened colors.
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 lucky wolf with the same lucky dice, on his tongue, or a doodle of a rabbit with a 5 o’clock beard smoking a cigarette, that was at play here. Kozik’s bold graphics, with the cartoon and pop images of our lives, and blunt communication connected deep into us, beyond words. Kozik’s designs subconsciously reminds 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 Poster Pop’s 2nd artist, Coop in Part 2, our next post and the beginnings of Poster Pop in Part 3.
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, This is why you became an artist.
Call some local clubs. Make posters for local shows. Having your art published, and being part of an art movement will allow you and your art to be seen…
Stay Tuned.
Our next Post will be on Coop, Poster Pop’s 2nd artist
Please leave a comment.
Thank you.
Matt Getz,
Poster Pop