Art is an industry. A big one.
According to an article published by Artnet, in 2015, the global art trade generated US$63.8 billion. The United States alone was responsible for 27.3 billion, nearly half of the total. No matter how much focus is placed on the creative and social commentary aspect of art, we must always keep in mind the business side of the enterprise as well as the amount of money it generates to thousands of people worldwide. Prominent artists throughout history have signaled this facet of their professions, the biggest one being Andy Warhol, whose work celebrated popular culture and was manufactured in ways similar to any other product for mass consumption.
Mark Kostabi followed Warhol’s example and took it to the extreme, making a lucrative career for himself as a painter. The son of Estonian immigrants, Kostabi grew up in California, where he studied art at California State University, before moving to New York City, where his career took off in the eighties. His name might not ring a bell, but you’ve probably seen his work, particularly on the cover of the Guns ’N’ Roses album Use Your Illusion, which features two versions of a painting by Kostabi, one in yellow and red, the other in purple and blue. Besides that, he’s most famous for painting images of mannequin-like figures that sometimes emulate great works of art, such as Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
On its own, his work is appealing, the featureless characters exist in colorful, surreal landscapes reminiscent of Salvador Dali’s paintings. Besides, his list of clients includes the likes of Bill Gates, Axl Rose, Brooke Shields, Bill Clinton, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite this, Kostabi is often the target of harsh criticism, not for the quality of his paintings, but for the way in which those paintings are produced. Instead of shutting himself away in his studio, surrounded by brushes and paint, Kostabi employs a creative team of assistants who do most of the work for him inside his studio: Kostabi World. Once they’re done, he inspects, approves, and signs his name on the finished product.
He even titles his paintings by hosting a televised game show called “The Kostabi Show” —formerly known as “Title This”—, where participants compete with one another to decide on the final name that’s to be given to his artwork. Respected artists and celebrities have been featured on the show, such as filmmakers Michel Gondry and Spike Jonze, while their colleague, Jim Jarmusch once said it was his favorite program on television.
This factory approach has been controversial, some critics praise his satirization of the artistic process, while others think he’s gone too far and that his work in itself is not worthy of being complimented. One thing’s undeniable, though, Kostabi’s model has been successful. In an interview with The Telegraph, Kostabi claimed said he sells close to a thousand paintings each year with prices ranging from $5,000 to $80,000 USD. So despite constant criticism he’s still profiting as an artist.
Kostabi defends his process by denouncing that artists are lying when they say they’re 100% responsible for one piece of art, since much effort was put into fabricating the tools needed to paint, for example. And that his practice is similar to what was done in the Renaissance, when prominent painters would head studios and collaborate with their assistants to produce their work. Whatever his reasons may be, or whether you like his vision or not, there’s no denying Mark Kostabi generates an interesting debate about the industrial side of art.
You might also be interested in:
7 Cursed Paintings That Nobody Wants Despite Their Fame
The Female Caravaggio Who Exorcised Her Demons By Painting Her Own Rape
