Untitled “Venice left,”, 2024
Oil on linen
48 in. x 96 in. / 121.92 cm. x 243.84 cm.

Untitled “Venice right,”, 2024
Oil on linen
48 in. x 96 in. / 121.92 cm. x 243.84 cm.

Curtis Kulig was born in 1981 in Minot, North Dakota. At a young age he was encouraged to follow an artistic path by his uncle, American painter Phillip Salvato, and father Walter Kulig, a screen printer. Over a decade ago, his private plea “Love Me” became part of the urban fabric of New York City. A loyal audience ensued, embracing the declaration with hope and optimism on a global scale. His studio practice consists of several mediums, including painting, drawing, and sculpture.

In 2018 he collaborated with Grear Patterson and Yves Scherer on a group show called “Happiness.” In this show he debuted his self-help series with a collection of mixed media work. They are collage-like mixtures of harsh brushstrokes, emotive sketches, and a mix of found photographs. In addition, 36 Men, a video piece which features thirty-six men demanding love, was also displayed. In 2020 Kulig’s solo exhibition “All Smiles” debuted at Kantor Gallery in Los Angeles, connecting his signature take on “Love Me” with the iconic smiley in an array of colorful circular-shaped paintings. That same year Kulig completed the first act of the Target Series in which the artist creates a single painting each month to map his emotional state with the final act completed once Kulig turns 50, marking 180 paintings in total.

In 2022 he created an interactive installation for the Diriyah Biennale in Saudi Arabia. And in 2023 his sabbatical in Paris culminated in the exhibition “Harmonie et Désir,” curated by Léo Fourdrinier and featuring his oil paintings alongside works by Yves Scherer and Aristide Maillol at Pal Project in Paris. Kulig also appears in collaborations with Mark Gonzales, Max Blagg, Robert Longo, and the New Museum.

Magical Evening–Paper Bag is the pinnacle of the luxury paradox, simple paper containing value and beauty. In his paper bag collections, Fred composes with actual bags from high-end luxury brands and fills them with popular symbols such as Coca-Cola and Chupa Chups. Finished, his pieces create a sumptuous blend of genres by transcending the codes of two opposing worlds.

Kulig has been featured in Office Magazine, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal and is a frequent contributor of works to charity auctions including Free Arts NYC, (RED), The Art of Elysium, and The Tibetan Fund. In 2021 Kulig donated work to the Tribeca Film Festival curated by Vito Schnabel and has done special projects with brands including Cartier, Issey Miyake, Nike, and Tiffany & Co.

Courtesy of Curtis Kulig Studio (@curtiskuligstudio)

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