Kii Arens

Last updated

Kii Arens
Born
Kii Monroe Arens

(1967-05-07) May 7, 1967 (age 56)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known for Pop art
Website www.lalalandposters.com

Kii Arens (born May 7, 1967) is an American contemporary, pop-artist, graphic designer and director. He is the owner of La-La Land Gallery in Los Angeles. In 2021 Arens was part of the dearMoon project and created numerous Non-fungible token art pieces to commemorate the designated SpaceX Starship, a trip funded by entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa.

Contents

Early life

Kii Monroe Arens was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to parents Robert and LaVae Arens. He has two brothers and one sister. From an early age, Arens had an affinity for morning cartoons, notably Sid and Marty Krofft. [1] The show, coupled with his interest in fonts, colors, spacing and layout, set in motion a growing fascination with art and design. His early passion for music was also strong, augmented by growing up in a musically inclined family. By the mid to late 1980s, Arens was DJing around the Twin Cities, and had a brief stint in Rap music, under the alias '2 Percent', opening for Gang Starr, EPMD, DJ Quik, amongst others.[ citation needed ]

Career

Arens' early immersion in the Twin Cities music scene exposed him to many elements of what would become important features of his graphic art, including: album art work, package layout, photography, poster design, creative direction, music video direction, merchandise design/creation and music production. Although Arens created artwork continuously growing up, his career as an artist was substantively set in motion with a design gig for the Woodstock '94 festival. Originally brought on as a hotel coordinator, he was invited to attend meetings about the festival's design direction, and raised concerns with what he saw as an overly nostalgic festival look (one that recalled too closely the Woodstock '69 festival). [2]

After returning to the Twin Cities, he started working for Niceman Merchandising. Arens' album design/layout career continues to this day, and has featured many projects, including: Dolly Parton's Backwoods Barbie and latest, Blue Smoke , Eagles of Death Metal's Heart On , Ziggy Marley's Wild and Free , Glen Campbell's Ghost on the Canvas , Pete Yorn's Back and Forth , and, most recently, LA musician/producer Jonathan Wilson's Fanfare. [3]

Flipp

In 1994, Arens joined his brother, Brynn Arens (Obsession/Fun House/Oddfathers), in the rock band Flipp, active from 1994–2003. He assumed guitar and backup vocal duties. The band embraced the Glam-rock genre reminiscent of the early 1970s, even amid its decline as a result of bands such as Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. Their Hollywood Records debut, Flipp (1997), saw them opening for bands such as Oasis, The Ramones and Cheap Trick. They released two follow-up albums, Blow it out your Ass (2000) and Volume (2002). Although Flipp has never officially disbanded, they have not performed live since 2003.[ citation needed ]

La-La Land

A visit to Los Angeles in 2003 prompted Arens' move [4] to his current location on Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. As his work in album art and band merchandising continued, he began creating unique, non-music associated art pieces. His pieces soon appeared in many galleries around Los Angeles, notably: M Modern, Subliminal Projects, Gallery 1988, and his own gallery, La-La Land Gallery, which opened in 2004.

Arens has exhibited in many shows, notably: Happy War… It’s the bomb, the first official show at La-La Land, which featured the work of Arens and many local pop-artists, including: Shepard Fairey, Chris Reccardi, Gary Baseman, Niagara, and many others. Art in the Dark, another show, was an exhibition of Arens' own pieces, images created using black light reactive paints and lighting rigs, which concealed hidden content that could be revealed upon the flip of a switch. In 2005, he traveled back to the Twin Cities, to exhibit a gallery show at Ox-Op gallery. The show was based around Spin-o-Paint / Paint-by-numbers / Oil paint. [5]

Later that year, lalalandgallery.com was created, an online venue for a series of customized lightboxes created by Arens. The lightboxes were also exhibited at La-La Land, and featured in a story by the Los Angeles Times. His "Hot Lunch Artshow" followed in Oct. 2005, and featured classic tin lunch boxes customized with local Pop art. By 2008, Arens found himself as curator of an art show based on the concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. [6] It included pieces for artists such as Liza Minnelli, [7] Grace Jones, and Femi Kuti. His first major concert poster was completed that year as well, for a Beck/Spoon/MGMT show at the Hollywood Bowl.

This has spurred a career in concert print creation that continues to present, with over 250 pieces created for artists such as Radiohead, [8] Queens of the Stone Age, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder, The Weeknd, Sonic Youth, The Who, Devo, Diana Ross, Divine Fits, The Pixies, Tony Bennett, Glen Campbell, Bruno Mars, Tame Impala, The Beach Boys and many others. [9] He also has created posters for various All Tomorrow's Parties events, as well as Goldenvoice's Coachella. In 2010, Arens created a print for Radiohead's Haiti benefit concert in Los Angeles. [10] Two editions of 250 prints were sold, and helped add to a grand total of $572,754 raised by the band during the event. [11]

Music videos

In November 2011, Arens co-directed the video "Ghost on the Canvas" for country musician Glen Campbell. It features Paul Westerberg of the Replacements, who also penned the track. [12] Arens' admiration for Campbell lead him to co-direct two more videos for the artist. "A Better Place" (2012), featuring Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, [13] and "Hey Little One" (2013), [14] a tribute to Glen's wife, Kimberly Woollen, who helped Campbell in his battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Arens directed the video for "Vampyre of Time and Memory", a track from Queens of the Stone Age's sixth album, ...Like Clockwork (2013). [15] The video featured three separate rooms that the viewer can navigate, creating a unique viewing experience. [16] He also directed "Living Each Day" by Kirin J Callinan in 2017, [17] and co-directed "Asleep at the Wheel" (with Jason Trucco) by Band of Skulls in 2014, [18] and "On Graveyard Hill" (with Bobbi Rich) by Pixies in 2019. [19]

In 2019 Arens directed the music video for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the song was performed by John and Taron Egerton, who portrayed John in the biopic Rocketman .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pixies (band)</span> American alternative rock band

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band formed in 1986, in Boston, Massachusetts. Until 2013, the band consisted of Black Francis, Joey Santiago, Kim Deal and David Lovering (drums). They disbanded acrimoniously in 1993 but reunited in 2004. After Deal left in 2013, the Pixies hired Kim Shattuck as a touring bassist; she was replaced later that year by Paz Lenchantin, who became a permanent member in 2016.

Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke ; the brothers Jonny Greenwood and Colin Greenwood (bass); Ed O'Brien ; and Philip Selway. They have worked with the producer Nigel Godrich and the cover artist Stanley Donwood since 1994. Radiohead's experimental approach is credited with advancing the sound of alternative rock.

<i>Hail to the Thief</i> 2003 studio album by Radiohead

Hail to the Thief is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was released on 9 June 2003 through Parlophone internationally and a day later through Capitol Records in the United States. It was the last album released under Radiohead's record contract with EMI, the parent company of Parlophone and Capitol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Yorke</span> English musician

Thomas Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Donwood</span> English artist and writer

Dan Rickwood, known professionally as Stanley Donwood, is an English artist and writer. Since 1994, he has created all the artwork for the rock band Radiohead with their singer, Thom Yorke, plus Yorke's other projects, including Atoms for Peace and the Smile. He also creates the artwork for Glastonbury Festival and has published books of writing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Kozik</span> American graphic artist (1962–2023)

Frank Kozik was an American graphic artist best known for his posters for alternative rock bands. With his prolific output and connections in the music industry, Kozik helped revitalize rock poster art in the late 1980s and 1990s, and was a founder of the modern art print scene. His album cover work included the bands Queens of the Stone Age and the Offspring. With his artistic versatility, he was also a pioneer in the designer toy movement, and later became the creative director of Kidrobot.

Vaughan Oliver was a British graphic designer based in Epsom, Surrey. Oliver was best known for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23. Both studios maintained a close relationship with record label 4AD between 1982 and 1998 and gave distinct visual identities for the 4AD releases by many bands, including Mojave 3, Lush, Cocteau Twins, The Breeders, This Mortal Coil, Pale Saints, Pixies, and Throwing Muses. Oliver also designed record sleeves for such artists as David Sylvian, The Golden Palominos, and Bush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flipp</span>

Flipp is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1994, founded by singer/guitarist/producer Brynn Arens. They were signed to Hollywood Records and later Artemis Records, releasing 3 studio albums up until their dissolution in 2003. The band were known for their MTV presence in the 1990s as well as its theatrical live show which included cartoonish personas, face paint, smoking guitar amps, jet-packs, pillow feathers, cereal, pulling unsuspecting concert goers onstage to perform with the band, and other such stunts. As of 2016, the band have reunited and remain active to this day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emek (designer)</span> American illustrator (born 1970)

Emek Golan is an American designer, illustrator, and fine art painter. He was called "The Thinking Man’s Poster Artist" by punk-rock singer Henry Rollins while working on the album cover for A Rollins in the Wry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Almera</span> Southern California artist

Marco Almera is a Southern California artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Evans (artist)</span> American painter

Jim Evans, sometimes known as T.A.Z., is an American painter, printmaker, and creative director who was a contributing figure in the visual art movement known as underground comix. After a successful career as a comic illustrator, Evans worked as a painter, poster maker, and owner of the digital design group Division 13.

<i>Radiohead for Haiti</i> 2010 video by Radiohead

Radiohead for Haiti is a live video of Radiohead's concert in Hollywood on 24 January 2010. The concert raised money for Oxfam responding to the 2010 Haiti earthquake that month. Footage of the performance was recorded by audience members and edited by a fan; Radiohead allowed the video to be released online to raise money for Oxfam.

Scramble Campbell is an American live music painter known for his brightly colored, expressionist paintings and screen prints of bands, musicians, and musical events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vampyre of Time and Memory</span> 2013 promotional single by Queens of the Stone Age

"The Vampyre of Time and Memory" is a song by the American band Queens of the Stone Age, from their sixth studio album, ...Like Clockwork. Written by Josh Homme, the song was released as a promotional single in November 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Slater</span> American poster artist (born 1979)

Todd Slater is an American poster artist who specializes in concert posters for indie and mainstream rock musicians. The many acts for whom he has produced posters include Jack White, Widespread Panic, Ween, Avett Brothers, Pearl Jam, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Matthews, Black Keys, Primus, Muse, and Neil Young. He also produces film posters for the specialist Mondo Gallery in Austin, Texas, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Shareaux</span> American singer-songwriter

Stephen Shareaux is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as lead vocalist for the hard rock band Kik Tracee. He is a solo artist as well as lead vocalist and co-founder of alternative rock band Zen From Mars which includes members of Bang Tango, Enuff Z'Nuff, Flipp, and Fear Factory.

Brynn Arens is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is best known as guitarist and frontman of the rock band Flipp, as well as guitarist for the alternative rock band Zen From Mars. He is also the founder of Brynn Co., which is his own model of guitar amplifiers created from vintage radio consoles.

R. Kalynn Campbell Jr, is an American artist, illustrator, cartoonist and writer/poet. He is best known for his work in the Lowbrow/Kustom Kulture movement, wherein he has been referred to as 'one of the most influential of the California Lowbrow artists'. As an illustrator, he created album/CD covers for notable bands like Megadeth, Reverend Horton Heat, and Social Distortion. His political cartoons were a fixture in Paul Krassner's 'The Realist' magazine from 1985 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are Hear</span> American record label

We Are Hear is a Los Angeles based record label, music publisher, and artist management company founded by producers Linda Perry and Kerry Brown.

<i>Seltzer v. Green Day, Inc</i> 2013 US copyright lawsuit

Seltzer v. Green Day, Inc 725 F.3d 11704 is a copyright lawsuit where the court determined if Green Day's unauthorized use of the Scream Icon illustration in the video backdrop of a stage show was fair use.

References

  1. ↑ "Pop artist Kii Arens looks for the splats". Vita.mn. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  2. ↑ Michael, Robert (May 28, 2013). "Kii Arens Keeps Art in Rock Alive Through Posters". Blouin Artinfo. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Kii Arens | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Illustrating L.A.'s Rock History". Rediscover.msn.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Kii Arens". www.nevermind gallery.com. Nevermind Gallery. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  6. ↑ Wada, Karen (December 6, 2009). "Art + music at the Hollywood Bowl". latimes.com. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Last summer, the..." Latimes.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Slideshow: Artist Kii Arens: Live/Work Studio". Dwell. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Kii Arens". GigPosters.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  10. ↑ Young, Alex (December 25, 2010). "New Radiohead-authorized Concert Film". consequence.net. Consequence of Sound, Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Radiohead For Haiti: Benefit Show Raises $572,000 For Oxfam". Huffingtonpost.com. January 25, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  12. ↑ Swensson, Andrea (November 2, 2011). "Paul Westerberg makes cameo in new Glen Campbell video, directed by Minnesota native Kii Arens". Blogs.citypages.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Glen Campbell – "A Better Place" Video (Feat. Josh Homme)". Stereogum. June 13, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Glen Campbell "Hey Little One" (Official Video) | Video Youtube – NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips". Nme.Com. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  15. ↑ "See Queens of the Stone Age's Freaky 'Vampyre of Time & Memory' Teaser". SPIN. October 28, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Behind The Scenes: Queens Of The Stone Age's "The Vampyre Of Time And Memory"". Vice.com. November 19, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  17. ↑ Retig, James (June 6, 2017). "Kirin J Callinan – "Living Each Day" (Feat. Connan Mockasin) Video". Stereogum. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  18. ↑ Gottlieb, Steven (April 8, 2014). "Band Of Skulls "Asleep At The Wheel" (Kii Arens, Jason Trucco, dir.)". VideoStatic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  19. ↑ Sicurella, Savannah (July 17, 2019). "Pixies Debut Bizarro Video for "On Graveyard Hill"". Paste magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.