Kersen Witkin
Visual Artist/Painter
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Having grown up in an iconoclast art environment,
Kersen Witkin creates his own styles of painting - and with a
mixture of influences, the result is an ability to create uniquely
varying styles. Using urban & engineering influences, his work
speaks to us all in a very modern voice.
About
the Artist:
Kersen Witkin was born in 1978 in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. He is the only child to Cynthia Bency Witkin and
Joel-Peter Witkin. In 2002, he graduated from the University
of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and
Spanish. In 2002, he moved to New York City where he currently
works as an engineer. Kersen has been surrounded by artists
his entire life starting with his father, a world-renowned
photographer, and his mother, a recognized tattoo artist.
Kersen and his father have been photographed in Herb Ritts’
Notorious and Vanity Fair magazine. His father’s identical
twin brother, Jerome Witkin, is a Pulitzer-winning painter who also
lives in New York.
Kersen started painting a year ago using mixed
media as his medium of choice. He is completely self-taught and
finds inspiration in New York City’s streets and everyday
surroundings. He also incorporates his engineering background
into many of his paintings. Some of his favorite artists are René
Magritte, Wassily Kandinsky, and Pablo Picasso. He is currently
seeking representation. To view more of Kersen’s work, please
go to
www.myspace.com/kersenwitkin
Kersen in New York City with
Father, Joel Peter Witkin
photo by Kiyo Taga. comp by Kris Swenson
Kris Swenson: You've been painting
a little over a year now - prior to that, did you participate in any
creative, artistic activities?
Kersen Witkin: "No, I just decided on my 28th birthday
that I would like to paint. I had always thought about
painting, but something about my 28th birthday really made me do
it. Maybe because my birthday is 8/28/78?!?! It is one of the
best decisions I have ever [made]."
Kris Swenson: Do you have select favorite Authors,
Musicians, Producers? And if so, which ones have most influenced
your perceptions in life & your approach to painting?
Kersen Witkin: "I would have to say that my favorite
author is Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, etc.). I
actually listen to a lot of hip-hop. A lot of times I get
ideas for my paintings from the music. "Pretty When You Cry" is an
actual song title from the group Vast. I wouldn't say that hip-hop
or any other music influences my perceptions in life, but it
definitely has an impact in my paintings. I actually have a
few ideas that I might incorporate some of my favorite lyrics and
turn them into paintings…stay tuned. I get most of my ideas
for my paintings from my surroundings and my engineering
background."
Kris Swenson: What types of media do you use in your
paintings? Do you use elements besides just paint? (For example,
some artists will mix things in to their paint, like iodine or
coffee, etc).
Kersen Witkin: "I do experiment with mixed media. I
haven't gone as extreme as adding coffee or peeing on my paintings
like Andy Warhol. I would have to say that my last painting
"Psycho Bunny" had the most different types of media. In that
painting, I used acrylic paint, pencil, marker, spray paint, paper,
photographs, paint marker, and highlighter."
"Psycho Bunny"
Kris Swenson: Who (or what) are some of your
strongest artistic influences?
Kersen Witkin: "I have quit a few influences. I come
from a very artistic background. My mother, Cynthia Witkin, was an
internationally known tattoo artist. My father, Joel-Peter Witkin,
is a world renowned photographer. My uncle, Jerome Witkin, won the
Pulitzer Prize for painting when he was just 21 years old. I also
have a grandmother, Helen Bency, who is well known for her weaving
and pottery making. I feel that I have grown up around such
talented family members that I kind of have a little of them in me
when I am painting.
As far as other influences outside of my family, I would have to say
Wassily Kandinsky, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Auguste Rodin,
among others. One of my favorite artists right now is Richard
Prince, who I got a chance to meet the other night. If you are not
familiar with him, you need to check him out!
...My surroundings in NYC and my engineering background have huge
influences on my art, as well."
Kris Swenson: How has your family's art history
influenced your own work – your Mother, Father and Uncle all being
artists?
Kersen Witkin: "... Growing up, I watched my mother
design the tattoos and apply them to her customers, which was an
amazing experience. In my painting "Untitled #3," I actually used
the tattoo that covers my mother's whole back.
"Untitled #3"
I have recently finished my
first collage, "The Virgin Elena," which one could see my influence
from my father."
" The Virgin Elena"
Kris Swenson: What was it like to grow up in a family
of artists?
Kersen Witkin: "I think it was both an amazing and a
crazy experience. When I was younger my mother made my clothes or
bought off the wall clothes, such as zebra and cheetah printed
paints. So in that regard sometimes my parents' eccentric style
wasn't always the best for me. But besides those little things,
growing up in such an artist family made me who I am today and I
would not change a thing."
Kris Swenson: Although you and your father (Joel Peter
Witkin) have very different artistic styles, has his work influenced
you? If so, how?
Kersen Witkin: "We definitely have different styles.
The main way my dad has influenced me is to go
with my gut and not care what other people think. Many
people think my dad's art has a lot of shock value. To me, it
sometimes is hard to see his work as shocking; maybe because I grew
up around it. In my opinion, I see his art as works of
beautiful and breathe taking photographs. I strive to paint such
amazing images as my father. Another way that he has influenced me
is his strong work ethic and his constant endeavor for perfection.
Unfortunately, at this point in my life, I cannot make a living
just making painting. Having said that, my painting time is limited
to just weekends, but if I painting was a full time job for me, I
would work 24/7 making the best painting I can produce."
Kris Swenson: Can you tell us any
influences/inspirations about the piece "Lover's Spit"? That is one
of my favorites.
"Lover's Spit"
Kersen Witkin: "I made "Lover's Spit" around the same
time I was making my "stripe paintings" which include, "Leftovers,"
"Moment," and "New Beginning." On "Lover's Spit," I wanted to
try something different. I dripped water down the painting to give
it a drip effect. Around the time I was working on the painting, I
watched some movie. Sometimes I will watch the credits and look at
the soundtrack list. This one song had the song title was in the
credit with the title "Lover's Spit (Remix)." I loved the title and
felt that it was a perfect name to this painting."
Kris Swenson: Which of your
paintings are your favorite, or the most meaningful to you
personally?
Kersen Witkin: "My favorite painting is my first
painting "Municipal Concrete Planet (Borough of Manhattan)." I
couldn't have asked for a better painting. Even though I don't have
any kind of formal/non-formal teaching in painting, it came out
better than I expected and captured everything I was feeling.
Sometimes I look at it, and think to my self, "I hope it is not the
best painting I will ever do." Then I remember all the paintings
that I have in "backlog", and I can't wait to see that will come of
them."
"Municipal Concrete Planet (Borough of
Manhattan)"
Kris Swenson: Is there anything you
would like to add?
Kersen Witkin: "The only thing I have to add is that
even though I come from a very well known artist family, I really
want to make a name for my self and not ride the coattails of my
father and others. I feel that what I have to offer to the artistic
world is great and I hope they embrace and appreciate my art. So
please check in with me once in a while and see what is new!"
Promo flyer for recent Art Show
including Kersen.
To find out more about Kersen and
his work, visit
http://www.myspace.com/kersenwitkin
Interview & Layout by
Kris Swenson for
Art Anomaly.
