Art Is Awesome with Emily Wilson

Paul Kos - Conceptual Artist

Episode Summary

In this Episode of Art is Awesome, Host Emily Wilson spends time with Wyoming-born conceptual artist Paul Kos.

Episode Notes

Welcome to Art is Awesome, the show where we talk with an artist or art worker with a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area. 

In this episode  Emily chats with renowned conceptual artist Paul Kos. Paul shares stories from his upbringing in Rock Springs, Wyoming, his journey from aspiring diplomat to celebrated artist, and his influential years at the San Francisco Art Institute. The conversation covers his early inspirations, unique conceptual works—including the famous "Richmond Glacier" and "Sharra Blue" stained glass TV installation—and his collaborations with art collector Renee Di Rosa. Paul reflects on the role of accidents in his creative process, memorable exhibitions, and the Bay Area spaces that inspire him. Tune in for a fascinating look at the life and art of Paul Kos, with insights into the evolution of conceptual art in Northern California.

About Artist Paul Kos :

Paul Kos, born  in Rock Springs, Wyoming, is an influential American conceptual artist and educator. He is one of the founders of the Bay Area Conceptual Art movement in California and has been a leading artist and teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area for over three decades. Kos's work often incorporates video, sound, and interactivity into sculptural installations, challenging conventional art media and subject matter. His major retrospective "Everything Matters" was held at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in 2003, and a second major survey of his work, "Equilibrium: A Paul Kos Survey," was held at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa in 2016. Kos's art is included in numerous public museum collections, including the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). He has received numerous awards, including the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Fellowship and the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship in video and audio.

Visit Paul's Website: PaulKos.net

More Info on Far Out at Di Rosa San Francisco CLICK HERE.

More Info on the People Make This Place exhibit at SFMOMA - CLICK HERE

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About Podcast Host Emily Wilson:

Emily a writer in San Francisco, with work in outlets including Hyperallergic, Artforum, 48 Hills, the Daily Beast, California MagazineLatino USA, and Women’s Media Center. She often writes about the arts. For years, she taught adults getting their high school diplomas at City College of San Francisco.

Follow Emily on Instagram: @PureEWil

Follow Art Is Awesome on Instagram: @ArtIsAwesome_Podcast

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CREDITS:

Art Is Awesome is Hosted, Created & Executive Produced by Emily Wilson

Theme Music "Loopster" Courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

The Podcast is Co-Produced, Developed & Edited by Charlene Goto of @GoToProductions

For more info, visit Go-ToProductions.com