As I look back on my decades-long fascination with Twin Peaks, there are times I wish I paid more attention and took more photographs. My opening night visit to the 20th Anniversary of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me exhibition at Copro Gallery in Southern California is one of those times. More than a decade after that night, I’m realizing the specialness of that night, especially being surrounded by artwork from incredibly talented individuals. One of the featured artists was the late Frank Kozik, who revived the lost art of concert posters in the 1990s.
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT AT COPRO GALLERY
Copro Gallery, located at 2525 Michigan Ave T5 in Santa Monica, California, held a large group exhibition celebrating the 20th Anniversary of my favorite David Lynch film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me from April 21-May 12, 2012.
Founded in 1992 by Joe Copro, Greg Escalante and Douglas Nason, the Gallery serves as “an entity to curate art exhibitions of emerging artists and publish the highest quality limited edition prints.” A dedicated page to the Twin Peaks-themed exhibition is still found on their website today along with the press release above.
I’ve highlighted other works from this show including Bob Balistreri’s “Bob on Formica,” Eric White’s “Let’s Rock,” and “The Peek” by Scott C., and SHAG’s “An Old Woman and Her Grandson.”
WHO IS FRANK KOZIK?
Frank Kozik (1962 – 2023) was born in Madrid, Spain. He moved the the United States at age 14 and settled in Austin, Texas.
As Punk Rock was taking off in the city’s clubs around 1984, Kozik began making flyers to advertise the shows. His earliest posters were created in standard black and white photocopied format. Inspired by psychedelic posters from the sixties, he switched his designs to larger, more elaborate, full color silkscreen prints in signed, limited editions. He is credited with single handedly elevating the concert poster to fine art status.
While at the Copro Gallery in 2012, I didn’t realize Kozik created some of the most iconic 1990s rock posters for bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Blink-182 and more.
Upon moving San Francisco in 1995, he launched his own record label, Man’s Ruin Records, where he released over 220 singles and full length albums including the first Queens of the Stone Age single. In 1996, he directed Soundgarden’s “Pretty Noose” music video.
By 2002, Kozik fully embraced the emerging art form of designer toys. A few years earlier, he created the popular Smorkin’ Labbit, an unshaven rabbit that smokes, inspired by the Japanese Hello Kitty character. Originally named the “Smokin’ Rabbit”, it was accidentally misspelled by a Japanese toy maker, and Kozik thought the new name was too good to let go. In 2007, he launched his own toy line, Ultraviolence, for more experimental pieces that larger companies might deem too risky to release.
Seven years later, Kozik was named creative director of Kidrobot and helped turn the company around by working with young, urban artists to design new toys. In total, he designed over 500 toys.
Beyond rock posters and designer toys, Frank loved Disneyland, muscle cars, his wife and his cats. A visit to his Instagram account showed a fun, playful side to this artistic genius.
Sadly, Frank passed suddenly on Saturday, May 6, 2023. His wife Sharon posted a notification on his Facebook page.
“BOB” BY FRANK KOZIK
On April 11, 2012, Kozik posted a first look at his “Bob” poster created for the anniversary exhibit. The caption read, “my piece for the Twin peaks show later this month at Copro Nason Gallery.”
Here is the artwork shared by Frank.
The image was inspired by this black and white image of Frank Silva as Killer BOB on the Red Room set during production of Twin Peaks episode 2.022. The photo was part of short series of shots of Silva. On contact sheet F, this photo was frame 17.
The next photo on the sheet – number 18 – has Silva slightly smiling (everybody run!).
The next day, Inside the Rock Poster Frame, posted the image on their website. They mention the work titled “BOB” is a 1/1 giclee print on canvas that is 40 inches tall. They also state there will “more than likely be a small run of giclee prints soon also, but they wont be 40 inches tall.” I’ve been unable to confirm if those giclee prints were ever manufactured.
The Copro Gallery website also listed the dimensions of this giclee of canvas – 40″ x 27″- and that it would be signed. Not surprisingly, the item sold before the show began for $750. I’m unsure who the buyer was but she or he was lucky to own such a stunning piece.
“BOB” AT COPRO GALLERY ON APRIL 21, 2012
I photographed Frank Kozik’s work during the opening night of the gallery exhibition on April 21, 2012. This is the part where I wish would have captured more details of this item.
I took a slightly cropped shot of the giclee on canvas to capture the owl detail in Bob’s eye. But those were the only two photos I took of Kozik’s work that night.
Kozik’s giclee on canvas was positioned next to a rather large piece that used multiple square frames to spell “Fire Walk With Me.”
You can still follow Frank Kozik’s work on social media which is maintained by his wife and estate. See Kozik.tv for the official store or Facebook and Instagram.
Download the two high-resolution images I took of Frank’s work on my Flickr account – HERE and HERE.
