A toy trade veteran and “one of many rock world’s high poster artists,” per Rolling Stone, is gone.
Frank Kozik, Kidrobot’s Chief Inventive Officer and creator of the long-lasting Labbit, died unexpectedly Could 6 at 61 years outdated. As one of many trade’s well-known artists, Kozik had been main Kidrobot’s strategic artistic imaginative and prescient and product growth since 2018.
Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, Kozik moved to Sacramento, California, when he was 15 earlier than becoming a member of the Air Drive at 18. After an honorable discharge, Kozik labored as a doorman at an Austin, Texas, nightclub and first gained consideration as a self-trained underground artist within the early Eighties.
Kozik’s flyers and posters for native punk bands grew a following, which led him to maneuver to San Francisco, California, in 1993, the place he began a print store and based Man’s Smash Data. Releasing over 200 singles and full-length albums for punk and different bands together with the Intercourse Pistols and the primary Queens of the Stone Age, Kozik additionally designed rock posters which is the place he first launched the Smorkin’ Labbit in 1996.
In 2001, Kozik closed Man’s Smash to commit himself full-time to fantastic artwork, design, and the rising artwork toy motion. Labbit, a smoking, unshaven rabbit character, was adopted by Kidrobot in 2003, beginning a longtime collaboration between the model and Kozik. Kozik designed greater than 500 completely different restricted version figures however extra importantly, he pioneered an artwork toy motion and supplied a launchpad for lots of of artists by means of Kidrobot and internationally.
Kozik designed merchandise and promoting campaigns for a cross-section of the highest way of life manufacturers together with a pair of NikeSB Dunk Quickstrike sneakers, a particular version Swatch watch, the 2007 Spike TV Video games Award trophy, and an “Absolut Kozik” print advert.
Kozik additionally labored with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Purple Sizzling Chili Peppers, Butthole Surfers, and Helmet. He directed the music video for Soundgarden’s “Fairly Noose,” and revealed a number of books together with Man’s Smash: Posters and Artwork by Frank Kozik and Determined Measures Empty Pleasures.
“Phrases escape how we felt about Frank,” says Joel Weinshanker, CEO of Advert Populum, which owns Kidrobot. “Residing the American immigrant’s dream, I’ll all the time bear in mind Frank’s childlike marvel and enthusiasm when it got here to creation. Frank noticed artwork wherever he went and was all the time attempting so as to add one other layer to all the things. He will probably be drastically missed, and I hope he realized how a lot he was liked and adored by those that had the pleasure of figuring out him. Till subsequent we meet my good friend.”
Kozik is survived by his spouse, Sharon. The Toy Guide workforce extends its condolences to the Kozik household and can replace this publish with data relating to companies ought to they develop into accessible.
