Studio Sunday: Ellen Kozak
Ellen Kozak is a painter and multimedia artist who currently lives and works in New York state. In her artwork, Kozak explores themes of perception and impression, creating artworks that visually express many different facets of perception, from light and colour, to sound and texture.
The first thing I notice, looking at this picture of Kozak’s studio, is the view. The artist’s New York studio looks right out onto the Hudson River – it must be inspiring to be able to watch the water carry boats and other objects past your window. Having a view that changes each day seems like the ideal window arrangement for an art studio.
Aside from the window, the rest of Kozak’s studio looks pleasantly warm. The yellow walls cast everything in a sunny light. I like the way that the painting on Kozak’s easel matches the overall aesthetic of the room – this might have been an intentional choice on the part of the photographer, but I find it really reinforces the idea of the artist drawing inspiration from her studio space.
Kozak’s supplies – a small collection of paintbrushes, paints, and a palette full of fresh colours ready to be applied to a canvas – are laid out neatly on the table next to her easel. The scale of the table and of the painting are small but approachable, again making the whole space seem friendly and inviting.
Before settling into this studio space in 1994, Ellen lived and worked in Japan for two years, where she was a lecturer at Seian University of Art and Design. Her video works, paintings, and other artworks have been collected by galleries and individuals in the U.S. and abroad.