Mark Kostabi
1960– · American painter, sculptor and composer associated with Pop Art
Kalev Mark Kostabi (born Los Angeles, November 27, 1960) is an American painter, sculptor and composer, linked to Pop Art and best known for his paintings of faceless figures. The son of Estonian immigrants, he studied drawing and painting in California before moving to New York in 1982. By 1984 he had become a prominent figure in the East Village art scene.
His faceless figures often comment on contemporary political, social and psychological issues, and their visual roots lie in the work of Giorgio de Chirico and Fernand Léger. In 1988 he founded Kostabi World, a large New York studio known for employing many painting assistants and idea people. From 1996 he divided his time between New York and Rome, and his presence in the Italian art scene grew considerably. His permanent public works include a mural in Arezzo and a large bronze sculpture, "Eternal Embrace", in Terni.
Kostabi is also known for album covers, including those for Guns N' Roses (Use Your Illusion) and The Ramones (¡Adios Amigos!), and for collaborations with artists such as Enzo Cucchi, Arman and Tadanori Yokoo. In music he has released work as a soloist, including the album I Did It Steinway (1998).