Mark Kostabi

Mark Kostabi (Los Angeles, November 27, 1960) is an American painter and composer.

Born in California to Estonian immigrant parents, Kostabi studied drawing and painting at California State University before moving to New York in 1982. By 1984, he became a key figure in the East Village art scene, known for his provocative media interactions and self-interviews on contemporary art.

Achieving international recognition in 1987, his works gained demand in galleries across Japan, the U.S., Australia, and Germany. In 1988, he founded Kostabi World in New York, a studio-gallery where his team produces around 1,000 paintings annually, all signed by the artist. Since 1996, he has divided his time between New York and Rome, influencing many Italian artists. His signature style includes faceless figures reminiscent of De Chirico’s mannequins and frequent references to classical artworks.