Artist Statement
Throughout its all too often tragic history, humanity has turned to the comical, the bizarre, and the extraordinary in order to maintain a sense of lightheartedness. This tendency is often reflected in my work on a personal, sociological, and autobiographical level. An inclination on my behalf towards satire as well as a sardonic translation of human behavior and cultural expectations carries on a long standing tradition. Every culture must possess those who always remain on a skeptical footing. Throughout the history of art as in the contemporary, issues involving the human condition have provided the most challenging and engaging critiques of human behavior. This use of allegorical imagery hopes to engage in that conversation.
Artist Bio
Having pursued the arts from a very early age, Andrew Kosten received a Bachelors degree in painting from Washington University in St. Louis in 2001 and a Masters degree in printmaking from the University of South Dakota in 2005. Andrew Kosten currently resides in Brookings, South Dakota where he operates Gum Pal Press. His work has been shown in national and international juried exhibitions and is featured in numerous public and private collections.