Rob Kulisek
Biography
Rob Kulisek (b. Philadelphia, 1989) is an American photographer living and working between Berlin and New York. His work, which circulates in the worlds of fashion and fine art photography, involves establishing settings and environments in which his subjects can play out improvised scenarios that appear neither staged nor accidental. These simulated moments become the material for a voyeuristic catalogue.
This methodology has formed the backdrop for projects with commercial clients such as Adidas, Burberry, Gucci, Hästens, Nike, Telfar and Tesla Motors; images and campaigns that have appeared everywhere from the cover of Texte Zur Kunst to the pages of American Vogue.
As French curator Pierre Alexandre-Mateos has written “Kulisek’s practice is marked by a sensual, suggestive and largely physical imagery. Capturing the high frequencies of bodies and interferences happening in group dynamics, his style is profoundly vibrant, and contemplative. Whether in the form of exhibitions, collaborative works, experimental magazines, music labels or installations, he plays with rigid categories to espouse soft, flexible forms, sometimes deeply sincere and spontaneous, sometimes more analytical.
Part of a generation of artists who are questioning porosities between Art photography and Fashion photography and shifting their commercial and aesthetic stakes, his pictures are nourished by his assiduous reading of independent fashion press from the 1990s, such as Purple, and Self Service, as well as experimental fashion brands like interdisciplinary studio’s Bless. Nurtured by subcultures that have emerged mostly in the 90’s and the 00’s in the indie-fashion photographic field, a large part of his practice is infused with anti-fashion, grunge, queer and porn-chic."
Kulisek attended The Mountain School of Arts in 2015. The following year, he was nominated for FOAM Magazine’s Paul Huff Award and his collaborative work with Dora Budor, WHEN THE SICK RULE THE WORLD, was included in the 9th Berlin Biennale curated by DIS.
Kulisek has also collaborated with German artist David Lieske on visual art and music under the name Kulisek / Lieske. In 2017 he photographed artist, model and musician Eliza Douglas for the cover of “299 792 458 m/s,” a fashion publication and conceptual project that he edits together with Lieske, and which is published by Westreich Wagner. Inspired by GDR experimental fashion magazine “Sybille,” “299 792 458 m/s” directly questions our relationship to speed and perishability whilst dealing with notions such as the temporality of fashion products, the relativity of luxury and the blind spots of representations.
Curriculum Vitae
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021
- Pride Rave (Part I), VI, VII, Oslo
- Solo presentation, June Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
- Frieze Art Fair, with VI, VII, London
2020
- The Opioid Crisis Lookbook, curated by Pierre-Alexandre Mateos and Charles Tessyou
- it could have been easy but it was still nice, curated by Jared Madere, MotherCulture, Berlin
2019
- Hooks and Claws, curated by Alexis Vaillant, Galerie Gregor Staiger, Zurich
- Peel, curated by DM Office, Francois Ghebaly, Los Angeles (collaborative work with Dora Budor)
2018
- Telfar: Nude, Spazio Maiocchi, Milan
2017
- Publishing as an Artistic Toolbox: 1989–2017, curated by Luca Lo Pinto, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna
- The Casual Pleasure of Disappointment, curated by Bjarne Melgaard, Red Bull Arts Center, New York
- Group Show, Greengrassi / Corvi Mora, London
2016
- Boil the Ocean, Bodega, New York
- Tre Amici, organized by Eleanor Cayre, Jacob King and Alex Zachary, Tre Amici Restaurant, Long Branch, New Jersey
- 9th Berlin Biennale, curated by DIS, Berlin (collaborative work with Dora Budor)
2015
- Misanthrope-NY, (curatorial), Mathew Gallery, New York
- The People’s Biennial, organized by Bradley Kronz, Long Island City, New York
Publications
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / sex III, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 160 cm (35 ⅜ × 63 inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 160 cm (35 ⅜ × 63 inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden IV, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden V, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
144 × 90 cm (56 ¾ × 35 ⅜ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
144 × 90 cm (56 ¾ × 35 ⅜ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled XIII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 80 cm (31 ½ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 80 cm (31 ½ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled XII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled IX, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled VII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled VI, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled V, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled IV, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / Henri II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / studio II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / studio I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / studio III, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / sex II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / sex I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene IV, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene VI, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
105.3 × 70 cm (41 ½ × 27 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
105.3 × 70 cm (41 ½ × 27 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden III, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene III, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 144 cm (35 ⅜ × 56 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene VII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 135 cm (35 ⅜ × 53 ⅛ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 135 cm (35 ⅜ × 53 ⅛ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene VIII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 135 cm (35 ⅜ × 53 ⅛ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 135 cm (35 ⅜ × 53 ⅛ inches)
Rob Kulisek, Pride (Hand) / VI, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / sex III, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 60 cm (31 ½ × 23 ⅝ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / scene I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 160 cm (35 ⅜ × 63 inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
90 × 160 cm (35 ⅜ × 63 inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden IV, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
40 × 60.2 cm (15 ¾ × 23 ¾ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden V, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
144 × 90 cm (56 ¾ × 35 ⅜ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
144 × 90 cm (56 ¾ × 35 ⅜ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled XIII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 80 cm (31 ½ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
80 × 80 cm (31 ½ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled XII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled IX, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled VII, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled VI, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled V, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / untitled IV, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / Henri II, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 80 cm (47 ¼ × 31 ½ inches)
Rob Kulisek, pride (rave) / garden I, 2021
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)
Digital C-print mounted on aluminium
120 × 180 cm (47 ¼ × 70 ⅞ inches)