STONE HARBOR, NJ – May 1, 2018 – Ocean Galleries kicks off Memorial Day weekend with guest artist, Josef Kote, who returns to Stone Harbor, New Jersey (9618 Third Avenue/609.368.7777) for the second consecutive year, bringing with him an all new collection of his dramatic paintings, including many site-specific pieces created with the Jersey Shore collectors in mind.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet Josef Kote at gallery receptions taking place from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, 2018. His exhibition, “Josef Kote – Harmony in White,” opens on Friday, May 25 and runs through Monday, May 28, with all artwork available for acquisition. Exhibit hours are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday through Sunday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Josef Kote back to Stone Harbor,” said gallery owner Kim Miller. “With last year being his first gallery reception with us, he had the chance to experience our beautiful New Jersey shore area firsthand and to meet many of our guests from all over the northeast corridor of the U.S. Over the past year, he has been hard at work painting a new collection of art specifically with our coastal area in mind, so it will be exciting to see his new creations.”
Kote began painting when he was quite young and committed to becoming an artist at just 13-years-old. Classically trained in the traditional approach of the great Masters, Kote traveled from his native Albania to Greece and then Toronto, before landing in New York in 2009.
Today, Josef Kote is recognized for his work internationally. He is best known for his distinctive style and technique which blend classic academic and abstract elements, fused together with his signature drip effect, to create breathtaking artwork. Kote’s trademark style includes bold brushwork and sweeping strokes of vibrant color alongside monochromatic areas devoid of detail; the result of these unique techniques are paintings that enthrall the viewer with an incredible energy.
One of Kote’s favorite subject matters is the water, as evident in many of his paintings which have nautical themes. After last year’s exhibition in Stone Harbor, Kote was inspired to create numerous oceanscapes and other water-themed paintings based on the pristine ocean and bay scenes he saw during his visit. Miller explains, “Many artists take photographs of scenes in order to paint them later. Kote is so amazingly talented – he actually sketches the views that inspire him and then, using the art drawings he has created, paints the vistas in a manner that truly brings them to life.”
In this year’s exhibition, gallery guests can expect to see many new coastal scenes based on last year’s visit to the New Jersey Shore, along with numerous pieces inspired by the people he met from all over the greater Philadelphia and New York area.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet Josef Kote over Memorial Day weekend at the Stone Harbor, NJ gallery receptions from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27. The “Josef Kote – Harmony in White” exhibit includes original paintings, as well as a selection of limited editions and sketches. All artwork is available for acquisition and will be personally signed by the artist during the receptions.
The exhibit and receptions take place at Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ/609.368.7777) from Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28, 2018. Exhibit hours are 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday through Sunday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday.
In addition to an extraordinary collection of artwork and custom-framing, Ocean Galleries also offers a variety of hand-made crafts from local, regional, and national artists in America, such as glass, pottery, jewelry, and furniture. All summer exhibitions take place at the Stone Harbor location of Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue), which is open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM through June 15 and 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM for the remainder of the summer season. The Avalon, NJ location of Ocean Galleries (2199 Ocean Drive) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. For more information, call 609-368-7777 or visit oceangalleries.com
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For more than 30 years, Ocean Galleries has provided quality art by contemporary artists to their clients while practicing the highest standards of credibility and integrity in a comfortable and unpretentious atmosphere. With locations in Stone Harbor and Avalon, New Jersey, the distinguished art galleries feature an ever-changing display of artwork that includes local artists’ watercolors, nationally recognized artists’ originals, popular beach prints, and limited editions. Ocean Galleries also carries fine furniture and hand-made crafts from America and around the world. Both locations have on-premises custom framing with design specialists and professional framers who can offer a wide selection of mouldings and an endless combination of traditional and custom-designed matting to complement and preserve any art. For more information, please call 609.368.7777 or register below.