STUDIO K.O.S.

Studio K.O.S. is a collective of artists who are continuing the legacy of Tim Rollins and the Kids of Survival (K.O.S.), whose collaborative approach to making art began in the Bronx in the 1980s. What was manifested from their collaborations became a powerful body of work that can be seen today in over 120 museums and public collections worldwide including MoMA, The Tate Modern, and The Art Institute of Chicago. Studio K.O.S. currently consists of Angel Abreu, Jorge Abreu, Robert Branch, and Nelson Ricardo Savinon, original members who have remained active for over 30 years. They remain dedicated to the mission of empowering young people through exposure to art and literature.

Invisible Man (after Ralph Ellison), 2020, is a video artwork made up of digital files made by participants of Collaborative Workshops for Transcendence through Art and Knowledge led by Studio K.O.S during the summer and fall of 2020. Participants were tasked with creating a personal interpretation of Ellison’s Invisible Man using digital tools and a framework established by Studio K.O.S. In the context of an educational workshop, each individual shares their reasoning behind their choices, and participates in a discussion about how the novel relates to contemporary society.

The ongoing video project is a visual exploration of themes found within Ralph Ellison’s 1952 magnum opus, Invisible Man. Participants are tasked with creating a personal interpretation of the text using digital tools and a framework established by Studio K.O.S. In the context of an educational workshop, each individual shares their reasoning behind their choices and participates in a discussion about how the novel relates to contemporary society.