contact
For all inquiries please contact Craig by email at:
craig@craigkosak.com
about
nationally recognized since 2008
13 solo gallery & museum exhibitions
22 group gallery & museum exhibitions
14 features in national publications
craig's story
Born in the late fifties and raised near Seattle, Craig's dedication to making art has been life long. Early recognition and support for his work led to studies at the Art Center College of Design and a thirty year career as a graphic designer. In 1995 he became the first web designer at Microsoft and helped build the foundation of the Internet we use today. In 2004 he quit his day job to pursue the dream of painting seriously. During his transition to full-time painting Craig served for three years on the board of directors at Seattle's Gage Academy of Art, and as president for the final year. He helped rebrand the school and move the registration process online. And he took a few classes too. The transition to independent work happened quickly; Craig soon rented a hole-in-the-wall studio in a bad part of town and got to work. Inspired by road trips to the National Parks of the western US Craig's work began to get noticed. By 2008 he was represented by numerous galleries and his paintings were published in national art magazines, including the cover of Southwest Art. Three years later Craig began a new adventure by purchasing five acres of rural forest on Whidbey Island where he built a modest home and standalone studio. He started working there full time in 2012 and the focus of his work began to turn inward. Inspired by the sea, the forest and the wildlife Craig is exploring a variety of ways to approach the process of making art, from representational to abstract. The work to integrate these seemingly disparate styles is ongoing.
artist's statement
The first chapter of my career found me living in the city and travelling the American west seeking answers in the National Parks. While I had not intended to make "western" paintings the influence of the landscape and wildlife was undeniable. Now, my travels around the west are done. My life, and my work are about the land and the creatures with whom I live. And the goal for my work has changed. Rather than make paintings that tell a story I'm much more interested in making paintings that share a feeling. My work explores the inner world where things are felt more than seen. I am making representational paintings about emotional experiences.
Thank you for your interest in my work,
exhibition history
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
selected bibliography
Southwest Art, Show Preview, August 2015, pp. 50, 51
education
2004 � 2005: Seattle Academy of Fine Art (now Gage Academy of Art)
Craig
Group show - The Crow Show, Whidbey Art Gallery, Langley, WA
Group Show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Dreamers, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - The Secret Life of Ravens, Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Raven Clan, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Warpaint, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Myth and Legend - New Age, Museum of Southwest Art, Midland, TX
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Myth and Legend - Part 2, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Myth and Legend, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Haven, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Group Show - Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY
Group Show - Bird in Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Talisman, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Solo Show - Talisman, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Group Show - Masters of Influence, Lovett's Gallery, Tulsa, OK, Patron's Award
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Instinct and Insight, Giacobbe Fritz Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Solo Show - Icon, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Group Show - What Does Compassion Look Like, Friesen Gallery, Seattle, WA
Group show - Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Solo Show - Road Trip with Raven, Gallery Fraga, Eagle Harbor, WA
Group Show - Expressions West, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay OR, 2nd Place Purchase Award
Group Show - Expressions West, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay OR, Entry of Merit Award
Santa Fean, August/September 2014, cover, pp. 40, 179
Southwest Art, My World, October 2013, pp. 102-103
Southwest Art, Following Raven, March 2012, contents, pp. 94-97
American Art Collector, May 2010, pp. 88-89
American Art Collector, September 2010, pp. 106
Western Art Collector, August 2010, pp. 154 - 157
American Art Collector, August 2009, pp. 132 - 135
Santa Fean, August/September 2009, pp 135
Western Art Collector, May 2008, pp. 116 - 121
Santa Fean, April/May 2008, pp. 66
Western Art and Architecture, Spring/Summer 2008, pp. 156
Southwest Art, January 2008, pp. cover, 61, 87
Focus Santa Fe, August, 2007. pp. 20 - 21
American Art Collector, July 2007, pp. 106
1979 � 1980: Art Center College of Design
