Kris Kuksi, mixed media assemblage sculptor and painter from USA. Photography © K. Kuksi

1.In your opinion what is the role of a museum?

Museums bring culture and artistic awareness to a community. It’s absolutely vital in any civilization and at any stage of development. Museums are history tellers and we owe it to future generations to preserve that.

It wasn’t until my early 20’s did I ever visit a major European art museum, but it had such a dramatic effect on me that just wasn’t there previously experienced through normal everyday American art education environments.

I felt gravitated towards the old world masters of painting, sculpture and architecture and I have yet to explore more in future travels. Thankfully having the opportunity to visit places abroad and see wonderful museums did I realize their importance in society.  

2.What are your favorite museums in the world? Why?

My very favorites are the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum of Vienna. The Kunsthistorisches Museum have just a marvelous level of master works in the collection including the way the museum is designed, as well as the architectural effects of the building. As for the Naturhistorisches Museum, I found it to be a pure source of inspiration from specimens of the natural world that was itself an artistic experience.

The MET in New York City is another favorite, again a great collection but a relatively consumable size to ingest in one long days visit. Other museums include: Museum of Fine Arts-Boston, the Louvre Museum, Galleria Borghese and the Frick Collection.

3.How important are social networks in your business? And which platform do you prefer and why.

It has a certain relative importance as far as visibility and staying current through our ever changing art world. Yet as a tool for visibility from art collectors it’s different take because many collectors don’t use social media primarily as a means to source for their collection.

So yes, there’s definitely an importance there but it doesn’t solely define an entire art career. Instagram is my go-to for social network as it’s heavily suited for imagery. I find a lot of danger in time towards social media however, especially when one uses multiple platforms. Nothing more dangerous to an artists production than ‘distraction’.  

4.In particular, due to the coronavirus emergency, how have you changed your business on social networks?

Changing my approach during the pandemic wasn’t too severe but I did release a couple of limited editions through my art representative Joshua Liner Gallery. These were affordable to a wide range of collectors. I realized now is probably not to time to be pushing sales of typical higher-priced works in the environment where many people are hesitant on large expenditures such as art.

The editions sold-out quickly nonetheless and I’m very fortunate to continue forward during these times, and I’d have to say that at least a small percentage of the sales were aided by the use of social media posts.

5.To create greater engagement among museums, artists and professionals, do you have any advice for cultural projects such as #MuseumWeek?

I’d say it’s always vital to seek those less fortunate to have the opportunity to experience art and culture. Despite what social status one comes from, exclusion from art isn’t relative to education or wealth, but appreciation is.

Art tends to be bracketed in what many deem as ‘high culture’ and myself coming from rural America, art and culture were very alien to me despite that I loved to draw. There certainly were art museums within a certain mile radius from where I lived but unless you’re tapped into that level of society from the perspective isolation I can imagine it would be difficult.

Cultural awareness is a necessity and art is a major tool for a civilized or even developing society. Learning to appreciate art is a major step, and platforms such as #MuseumWeek are a part of bringing that to the world. It will be exciting to see what’s possible moving forward!

Interview by Fabio Pariante, journalist

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Kris Kuksi on social networks: Instagram

Kris Kuksi (Springfield, 1973) is an American artist in the genre of Fantastic Realism. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Painting in 1998 from Fort Hays State University in Kansas and then in 2001 completed a seminar on Studio Painting at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence in Italy, and among other studies, in 2002 was subsequently earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting Studio from Fort Hays State University.

Kuksi’s artistic influences include the Baroque and Rococo periods, and each work of art stands for a new beginning, a new chapter of something in a new form and a new ending. In particular as a sculptor, the artist collects objects and materials that he finds all over the world which he then assembles with wood, metals and various objects. His work is owned by collectors such as director Guillermo del Toro, the actor Robin Williams and Nike CEO Mark Parker.