(STONE HARBOR, NJ) -- Ocean Galleries kicks off Memorial Day weekend with guest artist, Josef Kote, who returns to Stone Harbor for the second consecutive year, bringing with him an all new collection of his dramatic paintings, including many site-specific pieces created with the Jersey Shore collectors in mind. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Josef Kote at gallery receptions taking place from 7:00pm until 10:00pm on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, 2018.  His exhibition, “Josef Kote – Harmony in White,” opens on Friday, May 25 and runs through Monday, May 28, with all artwork available for acquisition. Exhibit hours are 10:00am to 10:00pm Friday through Sunday and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Monday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Josef Kote back to Stone Harbor,” said gallery owner Kim Miller.  “With last year being his first gallery reception with us, he had the chance to experience our beautiful New Jersey shore area firsthand and to meet many of our guests from all over the northeast corridor of the U.S. Over the past year, he has been hard at work painting a new collection of art specifically with our coastal area in mind, so it will be exciting to see his new creations.”

Kote began painting when he was quite young and committed to becoming an artist at just 13-years-old. Classically trained in the traditional approach of the great Masters, Kote traveled from his native Albania to Greece and then Toronto, before landing in New York in 2009.    

Today, Josef Kote is recognized for his work internationally.  He is best known for his distinctive style and technique which blend classic academic and abstract elements, fused together with his signature drip effect, to create breathtaking artwork. Kote’s trademark style includes bold brushwork and sweeping strokes of vibrant color alongside monochromatic areas devoid of detail; the result of these unique techniques are paintings that enthrall the viewer with an incredible energy.

One of Kote’s favorite subject matters is the water, as evident in many of his paintings which have nautical themes. After last year’s exhibition in Stone Harbor, Kote was inspired to create numerous oceanscapes and other water-themed paintings based on the pristine ocean and bay scenes he saw during his visit.  Miller explains, “Many artists take photographs of scenes in order to paint them later.  Kote is so amazingly talented – he actually sketches the views that inspire him and then, using the art drawings he has created, paints the vistas in a manner that truly brings them to life.”

In this year’s exhibition, gallery guests can expect to see many new coastal scenes based on last year’s visit to the New Jersey Shore, along with numerous pieces inspired by the people he met from all over the greater Philadelphia and New York area.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Josef Kote over Memorial Day weekend at the Stone Harbor, NJ gallery receptions from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27.  The “Josef Kote – Harmony in White” exhibit includes original paintings, as well as a selection of limited editions and sketches. All artwork is available for acquisition and will be personally signed by the artist during the receptions. 

Ocean Galleries is located at 9618 Third Avenue in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. In addition to an extraordinary collection of artwork and custom-framing, the gallery also offers a variety of hand-made crafts from local, regional, and national artists in America, such as glass, pottery, jewelry, and furniture.  

IMAGES: (TOP) Sound of Ocean Waves, Copyright Josef Kote 2018; (MIDDLE) NYC At Night, Copyright Josef Kote 2018; (BOTTOM) Morning Sunlight, Copyright Josef Kote 2018