KRISTOF KOSMOWSKI Abstract Series [Small] Size 24.5" x 18.5" to 21" x 29"
KRISTOF KOSMOWSKI (N)
BIOGRAPHY
ABSTRACT SERIES
Kristof began his artistic career in Warsaw, Poland where he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and graduated in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Graphic Design. He worked as a graphic designer in Europe and developed his skill, as a fine art artist.
Kristof was successful painting sports images and many realism pieces that can now be found in celebrity collections and in government commissioned buildings including official designs for marketing posters and for his native Poland's postal service.
In 2010 he began painting in a new and completely different style using alternative methods, media and subjects. He adopted a palette knife in addition to his traditional brushes and embarked on a new, creative journey. Pursuing his use of innovative oil and acrylic paint, together with a stunning new medium utilizing Venetian Plaster on board, Kristof set about producing his new creations, 'The Abstract Series'. His modern style of abstraction explores the subjects that most deeply move and influence him such as the Colorado Mountain landscape, Aspen trees and various waterscapes with emotional resonance to his life and work..
Kristof is a prolific painter who continually expands his approach. His inspiration comes not only through his personal life experiences but from the modern masters, including Monet, Klimt, Cezanne, Robert Motherwell and Gerhard Richter elements of which can be seen in his work.
The challenging medium of Venetian Plaster with inherent Oil Pigments, gives his work depth, texture and a rich organic feel. Venetian Plaster, was used as far back as Roman times, with a resurgence once more during the Renaissance 500 years ago in Venice. It is primarily composed of crushed marble and lime putty, this can be tinted to give a vast array of color and texture. Kristof’s distinct color pallet reflects a rich and complex outcome. Each variation infused into the plaster, is applied with a random, immeasurable quantity and his extemporaneous and emotional inspiration draws from a deep raw energy that translates into the poetic motion of his palette knife. Given the intricate texture of the plaster, it is difficult to reproduce accurately, only the essence can be achieved giving originality to these one of a kind pieces evoking intense feelings of mystery, ambiguity and secrecy. His bold use of color, texture
and pastels reflect an innate raw energy. These are the signature marks of this Colorado-based, international artist.
Collections
In 2008 The US Tennis Association, chose one of his paintings commissioned for Andy Roddick, as the official Poster for the Davis Cup. In 2010 and 2011, the Roaring Fork Polo Club, commissioned the official posters for their annual World Snow Polo Championship, held in Aspen, CO and the Rocky Mountain Polo Championship (Summer) held at the Roaring Fork Polo Club, in Newcastle, CO. His works have also been chosen for display in the St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland, UK and, most notably, his paintings are on permanent display in the Offices of the Chief of the Finnish Parliament.
Kristof began his artistic career in Warsaw, Poland where he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and graduated in 1982 with a Masters Degree in Graphic Design. He worked as a graphic designer in Europe and developed his skill, as a fine art artist.
An avid sportsman, former professional athlete and member of the Polish National Sailing Team, that competed in the 1972 Olympics in Munich Germany, Kristof naturally gravitated to painting images of the sports he is passionate about; sailing, skiing, equestrian polo and tennis.
The Polish Postal Service saw his work on exhibition and commissioned Kristof to design sports related images for national stamps. He was a prodigy in the European art world and honored with 25 one man shows in Poland's largest cities, in Germany, and in Finland before he reached the age of 18. His training also came from the Escole Messana Art School in Barcelona Spain and on many artistic pilgrimages which took him to capital cities throughout Eastern and Central Europe. By this time, he had built an ardent following of private collectors, primarily in Europe.
He characterizes his brush strokes as representations of motion and emotion. When questioned about his decision to uproot his family, his wife and two young children, even though he was gaining wide expectance in Europe, Kosmowski comments regarding immigrating to America, “ This is an expansive country and offers unlimited scope for an artist to gain recognition. There may be artist lofts and studios on every corner, but I have confidence that my work will find a place in America’s heart.” Kristof and his family relocated from Europe to the US in 1988 where they settled in Florida until 2008 and now reside in Colorado, where he finds inspiration to create and expand his God-given talent.
Education:
1972- 1977 Building Ingenifor School : MA ,Warsaw Poland.
1980 Escole Messana Art School in Barcelona Spain
1977 -1982 Academy of Fine Arts ,Graphic Design: MA ,Warsaw Poland.
Major Individual Collectors:
Marek Celej, Attorney General of Poland
Ryszard Kalisz ,Vice-President of Poland
Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs
Richard Petty , NASCAR
Andy Roddick US Tennis Professional
Dr Mark Clatworthy M.D., Auckland, NZ
Dr John and Mindy Walton M.D. Tulsa ,OK
Jeff Woods, Houston ,TX
Jack De Niro Realty
Snow Polo Aspen, Roaring Fork Polo Club ,Barry Stout New Castle ,Co
Tim Mitchell, Collector, Aspen,CO
Paul Karr, Collector, Snowmass ,CO Tropic Corp
Corporate Collections
St Andrews Golf Club , St Andrews Scotland, UK
Stern Enterprises LLC, Leathem S. Stearn, Aspen Co
Hilcorp Energy Company, Houston Tx, Jeff and Melinda Hildebrand ,
Hilton Corporation, Shortfalls NJ
Phil Finn, Young Oil Corporation
Yankee Candle Company, Michael Kidreadge
Rupari Food Corp, Robert Mint
Owner, New York Giants, Leonard Taylor
Museums, Foundations and Institutions
Andy Roddick Foundation
The National Museum, Warsaw, Poland
Finnish Parliament
Kaplan University, Richard Capazelli
The Polish Postal Service Warsaw, Poland
EXHIBITIONS
2015
Mitchell Contemporary Vail / Aspen , Colorado
The Aspen Club and Spa Aspen, Co
Art Expo NY April 23rd to 26th Pier 94 – 711 12th Ave, New York, NY 10019,
2014
The Mitchell Gallery
Aspen ,Colorado
2013
The Mitchell Gallery, Aspen, Co.
The Aspen Club and Spa, Aspen, Co
Art House, Private Solo Exhibition, Invite Only, 1011 S Ute Ave, Aspen Co 18,750 Sq ft, Summer. MSNBC Article, October 2, Most Expensive House in America.
2012
The Mitchell Gallery, Aspen, Co.
The Aspen Club and Spa, Aspen, Co
2011
The Mitchell Gallery, Aspen, Co.
The Aspen Club and Spa, Aspen, Co
Aspen Glass Gallery, Aspen, Co, One-man Show, Summer
Scenic Mesa, The Buffalo Collection Aspen Co, One-man show, Summer
2010
Aspen Museum of Art, Aspen, Co, Juried Show, Fall
The Mitchell Gallery, Aspen, Co.
The Aspen Club and Spa Aspen, Co
2009
The Aspen Gallery at Highlands, Aspen, Co. One-man show
The Aspen Club and Spa, Aspen, Co
2008
The Aspen Gallery at Highlands, Aspen, Co. One-manshow
The Aspen Club and Spa, Aspen, Co
1970-1979
25 one-man shows in Poland's largest cities includingGdansk, Warsaw, and Krakow
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Berlin, Germany and Helsinki, Finland
Prepared by Mitchell Contemporary, Aspen / Vail, Co
The Mitchell Gallery / Mitchell Contemporary