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Rudolf Kosow

German, Kazakhstani, b. 1972

Like images from a dream, Rudolf Kosow’s Surrealist figurative and still-life paintings and drawings conjure into reality otherworldly and absurdist scenes.

Kosow was born in 1972 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. From 1994 to 2000, he studied painting at the city’s State Academy of Fine Arts.

Now based in Germany, he divides his time between Stuttgart and the town of Laichingen. He creates oil paintings based on three subjects: humans, animals and landscapes. He invites the viewer to interpret each work’s enigmatic message. For instance, in Contact, an astronaut is seemingly unaware of a colossal cat’s peering eye. In Missing Pieces, Kosow depicts a couple considering the whereabouts of slices taken from a giant Black Forest cake.

Kosow also explores the nature of human relationships in his portraits, such as Couple and Discord. Capture features a large-scale image of a sleeping girl juxtaposed with a miniature soldier standing guard. 

“I try to paint things as realistically and as close as possible to enhance the real impression,” Kosow says in his artist’s statement. Although the imagery in his paintings and figurative drawings can be strange and somewhat unsettling, Kosow’s unique interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of “calm, harmony and peace.” 

Kosow has exhibited across Germany and France. His works are sought by collectors of 21st-century Surrealist art.

On 1stDibs, find a range of Rudolf Kosow’s paintings, drawings and more.

Average Sold Price
$1,210
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Hopeful (black labrador, dog pet, woman, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)

Hopeful (black labrador, dog pet, woman, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)

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In this moving piece by Rudolf Kosow, the canvas captures a tender and intimate moment between species. The focus is a deeply expressive black dog, portrayed with a level of detail t...

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In "Owner," Rudolf Kosow captures a tender moment of connection that is as powerful as it is subtle. The main subject of the painting is a large black Lab, soulful dog, its fur textu...

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Capture (girl soldier surrealist oil painting sleeping child portrait figurative
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Trapped, imprisoned and guarded - are there reasons to do so? Maybe "She" is dangerous, or possibly quite harmless, she is dreaming and serene. keywords; surrealism, portrait, oil p...

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Incident II (horse leg hoof equestrian man surrealistic animal tennis brown art)
Incident II (horse leg hoof equestrian man surrealistic animal tennis brown art)

Incident II (horse leg hoof equestrian man surrealistic animal tennis brown art)

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Located in Quebec, Quebec

A surreal vertical oil painting titled Incident by Rudolf Kosow depicts an immense, detailed black horse's hoof dominating the majority of the composition, set against a muted, textured background. At the bottom right, a small man...

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Phenomenon II (oil painting surrealist cat paws men vintage clothing nostalgia)
Phenomenon II (oil painting surrealist cat paws men vintage clothing nostalgia)

Phenomenon II (oil painting surrealist cat paws men vintage clothing nostalgia)

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Located in Quebec, Quebec

People encounter a domestic animal that is commonplace and familiar, but the disproportionate scale creates fascination, fright and this perspective renders the human speechless. Similar to the satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels", people are confronted with an inexplicable encounter and do not know how to react to it. Is the situation perplexing because a dog is huge, just taking a nap and does not notice the people around it, or are humans too tiny and do not recognize their "absurd" existence? keywords; surrealism, animals, cat, oil painting, earth tones, figurative painting, strangeness, contemporary surrealistic, unsettling, contemporary figurative painting, dreams, symbolic composition, cat paw

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Soulmates (brown pet dog, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)
Soulmates (brown pet dog, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)

Soulmates (brown pet dog, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)

By Rudolf Kosow

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Soulmates," a poignant work by Rudolf Kosow, tenderly illustrates the profound bond shared between a dog and a human. In this intimate portrayal, the dog's gaze is imbued with an emotional depth that transcends the boundaries between species. Its eyes, rendered with striking clarity, convey a world of understanding and companionship. The lady, is nestled against the dog's face in a pose that suggests a mutual trust and shared existence. This closeness speaks to a relationship that goes beyond the conventional pet-owner dynamic, hinting at a deeper, spiritual connection—a true meeting of souls. In Kosow's vision, the concept of soulmates expands, encompassing the idea that our most understanding and compassionate partners may not be human at all. The painting's title, "Soulmates," encapsulates the notion that kindred spirits are connected not by words, but by the heart and soul, through gestures of love and moments of silent understanding. With "Soulmates," Kosow invites us to contemplate the essence of connection and the forms it can take. It's a celebration of the unspoken bond that animals and humans can share, an acknowledgment that the purest forms of love and understanding sometimes require no language. This piece serves as a beautiful reminder of the loyalty, comfort, and unconditional acceptance that define the most precious of life's relationships. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...

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Malua Rosea Multiplex (painting monochrome Grey vintage lady Botany flowers)

Malua Rosea Multiplex (painting monochrome Grey vintage lady Botany flowers)

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2010s Jugendstil Rudolf Kosow

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Missing Pieces (oil painting surrealist birthday cake dessert couple cherry red)
Missing Pieces (oil painting surrealist birthday cake dessert couple cherry red)

Missing Pieces (oil painting surrealist birthday cake dessert couple cherry red)

By Rudolf Kosow

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At first glance, simple, banal things are visible but something is clearly strange here, what is going on here? And where did a piece of cake disappear? keywords; surrealism, food, ...

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2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

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Browse all Art from Rudolf Kosow
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Rudolf Kosow Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMediumCreation Year
2025$900Animal Paintings, Figurative PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2021
2025$800Animal Paintings, Figurative PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2024
2025$800Animal Paintings, Figurative PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2024
2025$960Animal Paintings, Figurative PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2024
2025$900Figurative Paintings, Animal PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2024
2025$3,000Landscape Paintings, Figurative PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint2020
2025$1,000Figurative Paintings, Nude PaintingsCanvas, Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Wood Panel2024
$1,210
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$800-$3,000
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Artists Similar to Rudolf Kosow

Rudolf Kosow art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Rudolf Kosow art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, purple and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Rudolf Kosow in oil paint, paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Rudolf Kosow art, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Valton Tyler, Henry David Potwin, and Joseph Broghammer. Rudolf Kosow art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $503 and tops out at $10,000, while the average work can sell for $4,863.