Kote
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JOSEF KOTE (1964- ) Born in Albania, Josef Kote is a skilled and discerning interpreter of color harmonies, light and mood. The core of Kote’s work is based on expressing feelings and emotions.
His bold brushwork and sweeping strokes of vibrant colors are applied more often than not with a pallet knife, while other areas of the canvas are left monochromatic and devoid of detail, creating a negative space that lets the eye drift to infinity. While known for his landscapes, he finds the challenge of figure work very exciting, and his aim is to push boundaries of previously executed works, introducing a new freedom of expression through artistic diversity.
“Art to me is so special. It’s a passion and purpose; it is the essence of my being. It wasn't easy to drop everything and travel across the world to pursue my dream, but I did, and I am thankful for every experience and the opportunities I've had. My interest in art began at an early age and as a young boy, born and raised in Selenice, Vlore my dream was to be an artist. I was 14 when I first left my parents’ home to attend boarding school to study art.”
In 1988 Kote graduated from an eight-year art program at the Academy of Fine Art in Tirana, Albania, with diploma in painting and scenography. Kote began his professional career as a scenographer at the Petro Marko Theatre in Vlore, but grew restless and traveled to Greece, where the warmth of the Mediterranean sun and brilliant light infused his paintings with a more impressionistic air. From there he moved to Toronto, where his urban scenes and snowscapes took on an expressionistic feeling. A move to New York caused his colors to become bolder.
Highly prolific, working long hours each day, he is never satisfied, continually seeking and constantly growing with every new painting: “I pour myself onto each painting I create and every time the motivation is finding the light."
His works are among the most sought-after by Gallery One collectors.