Frank Kozik’s Rainbow of Filth (aka Dead Che Busts)
Frank’s email was entitled “Rainbow of Filth,” and above you see what was attached. Similar to the Ludwig Van Bust Frank released at SDCC, he will have the 100-piece orange colorway available this July at the con. The 11 other colorways are editions of 50, which will be exclusives at various entities, including fluorescent pink for Kidrobot and silver for Juxtapoz. The SignedbyKozik folks (not a direct affiliate of Kozik’s) will be offering the one I’m most curious about: GID green. Frank’s own subbers are going to get the metallic purple version, and Frank said he’ll have a couple full sets available, no doubt for counterculture-loving completists who live in large houses. For a comprehensive list of who’s getting what, check out SpankyStokes’ sleuthing here.
Above, you see the prototype for the Dead Che Bust courtesy of the talented sculptor, Brin Berliner.
Frank’s Ludwig Van and Ho Chi Minh busts were sold at Christie’s Pop Culture Auction, and you can see the full rainbow spectrum of those here. I’ve often felt that while I’m not sure how a bust (any bust: Kozik, KAWS head, etc.) would fit into my collection, there’s something striking about seeing them all lined up in a “rainbow of filth”. When you line up more than one, I think it really does make the jump from vinyl art toy to art multiple.
Here’s Kozik posing with a Che print and a customized Che bike. Frank said he’s been painting Dead Che since the mid-1990s. Click through for a look back at the many canvases (skatedeck, BUD, iPhone skin…) upon which Frank has added his Che-mark.
