Today we’d like to introduce you to Rudolf Kohn.
Rudolf, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My entire life centers on art. My first public expositions were at the age of 18 in my homeland of Bogota, Colombia. I came to Miami 22 years ago and became a resident at the now famous, Bakehouse Art Complex. I integrated into the scene here in Miami and had a good amount of shows and generated a good amount of acknowledgment in The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, and some magazines. I balanced being an up and coming artist with being an art director for commercials and music videos. Miami was a really busy city for film at the time, so I was always working or painting, and barely sleeping. Ten years ago I began an apprenticeship with a local sculptor of Miami, named Omar Ali. This added another dimension to my artistry. I began incorporating sculpture into my work.
I created a series of metal sculptures that was shown at Art Palm Beach in 2014 and in 2015 several of my paintings and sculptures became part of Miami Private Art Collection. My sculptures took a new life in the direction of my vision in 2016 when I was commissioned to create a public piece called, The Last Emoji. I created a larger than life sculpture to represent a cell phone emoji. The project was geared toward a public service announcement against texting and driving. It was a great step for envisioning the potential of my sculptures in the city and beyond. Currently, I am putting my life’s work together. I am working with paint and sculpture utilizing a precise CNC plasma cutter to cut metal and create layered, three-dimensional wall pieces, and sculptures. I just finished some of my newest pieces in this style and I am looking forward to getting them out there under my new name of, #Kohnartist.
My background in metal expertise and the addition of new machinery has also opened the opportunity to create custom metal work for other artists’ projects. Through my business, ARK Metal Design, we also create custom work and functional metal art for home and landscape. We are full service, offering design work, metal cutting, fabrication, and custom powder coating. To say I have learned a lot is an understatement. I feel I have lived lifetimes, and all of them I have been an artist.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road is felt in waves of successes and acknowledgments to periods of hard work, climbing to the next peak. The art world has changed a lot in the last 20 years, as the economy. The concept of art has also completely shifted to a very conceptual feel. I recently went to a city conference about the importance of art in our communities. They highlighted how in most European countries the budget is extremely generous for public art. However, in the United States, an Artist is not usually deemed a profession. Many people ask what else you do besides being an Artist. This individual thought structure is reciprocal in the structure of our society. There is not enough emphasis on the value of art in our lives, public places, or schools; therefore people do not respect it as a profession. I believe the presence of a nurtured artistic community that shares inspiration with our world is truly necessary to develop and inspire health in our unique expressions.
Rudolf Kohn – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The body of my work is astral, detail oriented, and satirical. Aspects of spirituality and interconnectedness drive my creativity. I have done a lot of work with various series of my paintings. One of them, Ozotron (2006), a futuristic character that time travels to help save humanity from themselves, and another, City of Love (2010), a series about the all-seeing who is always with us. The Last Emoji sculpture I designed and constructed in 2016 in conjunction with Sprint was covered all over the world in print, electronic, and social media. The series I am working on now is my unique style. I am developing a unique style of mixed sculpture and wall art with print techniques on metal under the name, #Kohnartist. I use known and ancient symbolism to convey charged messages that break cycles of fear and conditioned thought.
I am completely self-taught at everything I do. I have three years of undergraduate art education from Universidad de Los Andes in Colombia. However, I have learned most techniques through apprenticeships and by doing all things myself. I am full service in my artistry; all phases from design to construction are completed myself. The depth of my experience has recently brought me together with some of the most talented artists in the community to create pieces for their projects. I opened a line of service for other artists looking for metal design and fabrication under a company named, ARK Metals. We also offer a line of service for functional and custom artwork- complementing homes, businesses, and landscape. All of my pieces can be installed indoors or outdoors offering the highest potential to all my work. I look forward to many new relations and custom projects all in the name of art.
We always love to ask about the support network – have there been people, perhaps mentors or advisors, who have played a big role in your success?
I have not traveled this road alone and do not believe that is possible. I had an important mentor that is an extremely talented sculptor named Omar Ali. He only works on titanium and he guided a lot of my technique for a particular welding style. My other blessings and supporters are the women in my life. My mother was my biggest supporter; she wholeheartedly believed in my potential and my work. As an artist, this reminder is crucial to my success. As she was leaving this planet, I found the two loves of my life, my wife and my daughter. My wife is my partner in every way. She continues my mother’s legacy of support and functions as a business partner, secretary, and a connoisseur. They are my muses.
Pricing:
- Local art supporters: pieces starting at $200.
- Collectors, and custom pieces: there is infinite potential in the studio. Prices range from $200-$30,000+ depending on project size, and technique.
Contact Info:
- Address: Rudolf Kohn Art Studio and Gallery
1343 NE 119th Street
Miami, FL 33161
Gallery visits by appointment - Website: www.rudolfkohn.com
- Phone: 786-488-3955
- Email: artekohn@gmail.com
- Instagram: @rudolfkohn_art, @ark_metaldesign
- Other: www.arkmetaldesign.com
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
