Gary Kroman: From Classic Illustration to Innovative Artistry

A native New Yorker, Gary Kroman began his journey as an independent freelance illustrator back in 1972, making a mark in the world of ad agencies and magazines. His breakthrough came a year later when he started illustrating for Relix magazine, plunging into a world that uniquely combined his passion for art and music. Inspired by legendary figures like Rick Griffin, Kelly, Mouse, and many other poster artists hailing from San Francisco, Kroman found his creative voice in the late sixties and early seventies.

Kroman’s vivid imagination and unique style culminated in a myriad of posters, magazine covers, album cover art, and tees. His most celebrated works include the “100 Grateful Dead songs,” “Sunshine Daydream,” “Summer of Love 20th year anniversary,” and “Dead Serenade.” These creations have traveled the globe, finding homes in diverse establishments and collections, and are still being traded and sold to this day.

Kroman’s work has found recognition and admiration at numerous exhibits and auctions, such as the J. B. Kline Gallery in Lambertville, N.J., the Hard Rock Vault’s “30 Years of Grateful Dead Art” exhibition in Orlando, FL, and the esteemed Guernsey’s “40 Years Of Rock and Roll.” He has also been extensively published, notably featuring in Paul Grushkin’s book “The Art Of Rock” Vol. 1.

However, after more than three decades of adhering to traditional painting and drawing techniques, Kroman felt the need for change. He found the two-dimensional canvas limiting and yearned to experiment with depth and dimension. Inspired by some glass paintings and their “floating” imagery, he ventured into using different kinds of glass as his canvas, layering paint on both sides to create an illusion of depth.

Soon after, his experimentation with materials led him to replace glass with plexiglass, a suggestion from his daughter. This new medium, backed with a plain white board for creating space, added a striking dimensionality to his work. With every new piece, he continued to explore, adding textures, using mixed media, and aligning the front image with the back one for a more profound dimensional effect.

Kroman’s current subject matter explores the concept of celebrity and the implications of their personas. Each artwork makes a unique statement about the individual it portrays, offering a little more depth to the “hanging in space” view with every new piece. As Kroman’s creative journey continues, he persistently questions, experiments, and innovates, pushing the boundaries of conventional art forms while staying true to his roots.
Visit HERE to see the entire collection

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