Artwork Description
Red Hot Chili Peppers Primus 1989 Fillmore Silkscreen San Francisco CA Print by Frank Kozik Hand-Pulled on Fine Art Paper Limited Edition Pop Street Art Artwork.
1989 Kozik Artwork Size 13x19 Silkscreen Print Band Gig Poster by Frank Kozik. Bill Graham San Francisco The Fillmore Poster F115 Red Hot Chili Peppers Mary's Danish Primus September 15 16, 1989
Red Hot Chili Peppers Primus 1989 Fillmore Silkscreen Print by Frank Kozik
The Red Hot Chili Peppers Primus 1989 Fillmore silkscreen print by Frank Kozik is an iconic piece of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork that embodies the rebellious energy of late 1980s underground music and poster culture. Created for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' performance at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco, this 13x19-inch hand-pulled silkscreen print was commissioned as part of the Bill Graham Presents concert series. Featuring bold colors, surrealist imagery, and an unmistakable punk aesthetic, this piece captures the raw intensity of the era’s alternative rock movement. The inclusion of supporting acts Primus and Mary’s Danish further cements its significance as a relic of an explosive time in live music history.
Visual Composition and Artistic Style
Frank Kozik’s artistic style is instantly recognizable in this print, with its bold neon hues, high-contrast linework, and provocative subject matter. The composition features a flaming skeleton with an exaggerated grin, clad in a polka-dotted bikini bottom, with its tongue out in a defiant gesture. The presence of a stylized, curvy female figure in the background adds a surreal, almost psychedelic touch, reinforcing the wild, chaotic energy associated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' music. The background consists of swirling patterns in bright pink and purple, creating a hypnotic effect that draws the viewer into the image. The heavy use of black outlines and exaggerated cartoonish elements reflect Kozik’s influence from underground comics, skate culture, and punk zine aesthetics. The typography follows a classic gig poster format, with large block lettering announcing the headlining act in bright pink against a dark background, while additional text in cyan provides details of the event. This mix of playful, irreverent imagery and structured design highlights Kozik’s mastery in blending controlled chaos with striking visual appeal.
Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork Influence
Frank Kozik’s work stands at the crossroads of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork, merging countercultural aesthetics with fine art printmaking techniques. The poster's aggressive, high-contrast design is reminiscent of graffiti stencils, while the hand-pulled silkscreen process ensures that each print carries a unique, raw texture. The exaggerated punk-inspired figures, combined with psychedelic color palettes, align with the visual language found in 1980s street art and underground concert promotion. This piece reflects the DIY spirit of gig poster culture, where artists crafted promotional artwork that doubled as collectible art. Kozik’s ability to merge lowbrow sensibilities with high-impact design has made his prints some of the most sought-after in the gig poster scene. His background in self-published artwork and street-level design tactics translates into compositions that feel alive, rebellious, and unfiltered.
Collectibility and Cultural Impact
As an official Fillmore poster, this silkscreen print holds immense historical and artistic value. The late 1980s were a defining era for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as they blended funk, punk, and rock to create a sound that would later dominate alternative music. The collaboration with Primus, a band equally known for its genre-defying sound, adds to the poster’s significance as a symbol of musical innovation. Frank Kozik’s gig posters have become highly collectible, with limited-edition prints from this era commanding high demand among both art collectors and music fans. The handcrafted nature of the silkscreen process ensures that each piece has its own unique character, reinforcing the authenticity and individuality of the work. Kozik’s influence continues to shape modern poster design, and this print remains a testament to his ability to translate the raw energy of live music into visually arresting artwork. This piece is not just a concert advertisement; it is a statement of the era, an artifact of underground culture, and a masterpiece within the world of Street Pop Art & Graffiti Artwork.