Stabby the monkey

Frank Kozik was born in Madrid, Spain in 1962 . At the age of 14 he moved to the United States and settled in Austin, Texas. Credited with single handedly reviving the “lost” art of the concert poster, his creative career rose largely out of his enthusiasm for Austin’s growing underground punk rock scene in the mid-eighties. Starting with black and white flyers for friends’ bands posted on telephone poles, his reputation grew as an artist whose work was graphically compelling as well as culturally gripping. Kozik is based in San Francisco, California, where he produces artwork, toys and graphic design. He formerly managed his own record label, Man’s Ruin Records (1995-2001). Under which, he released over 220 singles and full length albums including the first Queens of the Stone Age single. He has produced artwork for a diverse range of musicians such as Pearl Jam, the Butthole Surfers, Green Day, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, the Melvins and many more. In 1996, he directed Soundgarden’s “Pretty Noose” music video. In 2001 Kozik left the music business and devoted himself full time to fine art and the newly emerging Vinyl Art Toy movement. Since 2001 he has designed over 300 separate toys and artBased in San Francisco, CA but catering to the world at large, STRANGEco creates and distributes unique, high-quality design-oriented consumer products. Working closely with contemporary artists from a variety of subculture art genres – pop surrealism, graffiti & street art, independent comics, illustration, graphic design and others – STRANGEco takes original character design and transforms it into beautiful three dimensional art objects. Founded in 2002 by Gregory Blum and Jim Crawford, STRANGEco has become a dynamic force in the worldwide “Art Toy” movement with a reputation for the highest quality, best produced and intricately realized items. STRANGEco has produced hundreds original products from designs by a literal “who’s who” of contemporary art: Gary Baseman, Ron English, Shepard Fairey, Jeremy Fish, FriendsWithYou, James Jarvis, Mars-1, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Todd Schorr, Tokidoki, Jim Woodring and others. STRANGEco goods can be found in fine retailers worldwide, including art, design and gift stores, boutique toy stores, lifestyle and apparel shops, museum stores, comic, record and bookshops, and a select number of lifestyle-oriented national retailers.