The Frank Kozik Interview and Blink 182 Poster Giveaway

 Frank Kozik reinvented the gigposter scene starting in the mid 80's by starting with black and white flyers for friends’ bands posted on telephone poles, his reputation grew as an artist whose work was graphically compelling as well as culturally gripping. By redefining the Pop Art Subculture with his poster work people started to take notice of his work. He started Man's Ruin Records label and help give many small local bands the break they needed including Queens of the Stone Age. In 2001 he stopped all that to work on his fine art and once again helped to create a niche, the Vinyl Art Toy scene. After creating the iconic Labbit figure he continues to blow minds in vinyl toy world with all his creations, he even has one that is special order and life size. He has worked with companies from Nike to Oakley to Barneys to Kidrobot all the while doing things his way or fuck off. Now after 11 years away from doing posters, aside from a few here there, he is back doing posters and prints.

It is with great pleasure I give you Frank Kozik.

The biggest question on everyone's mind without a doubt is what brought you back to the poster scene ?

-Last year I did a pearl Jam poster, just for kicks and the positive response and the good dealings with the band put me in a positive frame of mind to do posters again. I have been doing small run art prints as well…and everyone seemed to like them so I figured, why not? My main work, the toys and design stuff is well organized these days and I have extra time so I decided to do a shit ton of posters and prints. Currently there's 16 in the pipe and more brewing. They all sell out right away its awesome.

Did the end of Man's Ruin Record label and 15 plus years of doing gigposters  burn you out on the whole music and poster business to the point of wanting to direct your artistic endeavors in a new direction which lead to the toys and urban vinyl figures ?

-Yes…burned out and just ready for something different. I got into the urban vinyl thing and its been great. Super fun, great collectors, lots of travel and so on. Very satisfying.

Why do you think all the different figures and vinyl toys became so popular ?  

-They are just cool. Who doesn’t like to collect weird fun stuff?

Who first got you into designing the toys and were vinyl figures your first choice for something new after the posters ?

- I was going to Japan a lot in the late 90’s and was there and knew the Japanese dudes that started doing the first ones there, so I just sort of hooked up with that scene. Couldn’t give em away Stateside, that’s really changed….

Being away from designing posters for more or less 11 years, what new ways do you approach the design now with all the different programs like Photoshop and Illustrator ? Are you still cutting rubylith film ?

-well, sad to say, its all processed on the computer in the end…I am still doing hand illustrations and so on, but it has to go thru the digital filter now, since I am not doing my own printing. My wife did find a place in Los Angeles that can still make big  real halftone film positives, so I am going to send some stuff down there and hand cut those seps, but its logistically complicated because I cant just go over there, stuff has to be sent back and forth and so on.

What are your thoughts on the current gigposter scene ?  Why do artist still get treated like crap by bands like Phish and what can be done about it ?

-I think there's a massive amount of insanely talented poster designers. I don’t know what the ‘Phish Situation’ is, so I can’t comment on that. The bands I have been dealing with are awesome.

In the past few years you have done collaborations with Jermaine Rogers and Shepard Fairey, any plans to work with anyone else ?

-I just did a collab with a guy ( secret for now) and it actually went well and the poster doesn’t look stupid..so maybe that guy if there's a chance again..otherwise, no, it’s always weird. Ego and money issues. Fuck that shit.

What are your thoughts on the whole "variant" poster editions? Not the ones for like Pearl Jam and Blink 182 that were made for release at the show and different colors for the artist release. But releasing 20 variants of colors and paper choices

-I don’t like it. It is a scam. There should be ONE edition and AP’s should be limited to 10% only of the for sale run. Anything else is bullshit and a scam. Why not design a DIFFERENT poster or print instead of milking that cow until it shrivels up and dies. It also puts a burden on completist collectors. An unfair burden. Shit like this  killed comic book and sports collecting. Learn a lesson man.

Limited Edition Movie posters have exploded within the last 4-5 years what are your thoughts on them and will they continue or are they a passing fad ? Would you do you one if someone asked ? 

-I think its an amazing scene with a level far above ‘gigposters’. Some of it is just unreal. I did do an ElectraGlide in Blue poster a few years ago. I’d love to do another one someday but I do not think I have the talent required.

What artists have caught your eye in recent years ?

Horkey, Tyler Stout, Skinner….

Have you purchased any prints or art in the past 3-4 years and if so by who ? 

Some art…Skinner sculptures, Travis Louie paintings other random weird shit. Vintage posters..non musical.

What kind of times has the Charger posted at the strip ?  Do you have time you would like to hit ? 

Like in the mid 11’s. I am too old to be consistent and it’s a 4 speed manual so its more fun than a winner.

Any chance of an art print with Edward Goralsky (your cat)and the Charger ?  Or even a vinyl toy with him driving it? Or riding on a motorcycle ?

Maybe!

 Check him out on Facebook HERE

Now I promised a giveaway, Frank was kind enough to provide his recent Blink 182 poster for a giveaway. The poster is 22 1/2 x  35 inches, 8 color silkscreen on 140 lb. archival paper, signed and numbered, edition of: 100 

 Now go to the top of the post above the picture and click on comments to leave a comment about MOPAR, CATS or ART to have a chance at winning the poster. Don't worry if your comment does not appear immediately I have to approve them before they are published. I will use the random number generator to pick a winner. Entries are limited to ONE PER PERSON PER HOUSEHOLD. Please leave your name with the comment, comments without names will not be accepted. Entries will be accepted until midnight PDT Saturday June 17  that's two days to enter with the winner announced on Sunday.

Since some people can't read instructions if you leave more than one comment I will be deleting them all and you will have to do it again, meaning if Sally leaves 3 comments I will delete them all and she will have to do it again. ONE comment per person. It's not that hard, we're not saving lives here just giving away a poster.

HUGE THANK YOU to Frank Kozik for the interview and giveaway !!!  Be sure to check his website http://www.frankkozik.net/