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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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Sweet Sounds (cat, feline, lady, flute, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting
Sweet Sounds (cat, feline, lady, flute, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting

Sweet Sounds (cat, feline, lady, flute, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting

By Rudolf Kosow

Located in Quebec, Quebec

"Sweet Sounds," a mesmerizing painting by Rudolf Kosow, depicts a tranquil scene of harmony between a young girl and a slumbering cat. The girl, seated and playing an instrument, see...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Owner (black Lab dog, sleeping lady, vintage dress, animal, surrealist painting)
Owner (black Lab dog, sleeping lady, vintage dress, animal, surrealist painting)

Owner (black Lab dog, sleeping lady, vintage dress, animal, surrealist painting)

By Rudolf Kosow

Located in Quebec, Quebec

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...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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

Located in Quebec, Quebec

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...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tramp (pet dog, beagle, troubadour guitare, animal portrait, surrealist painting
Tramp (pet dog, beagle, troubadour guitare, animal portrait, surrealist painting

Tramp (pet dog, beagle, troubadour guitare, animal portrait, surrealist painting

By Rudolf Kosow

Located in Quebec, Quebec

"Tramp," by Rudolf Kosow, is a whimsical painting that delights in its surreal juxtaposition of scale and serenity. At the center is a beagle's face, depicted with lifelike detail and expressiveness, eyes glistening with a calm intelligence that beckons the viewer into a state of contemplation. Positioned against the backdrop of the dog's vast visage, a small, solitary figure strums a guitar. The musician, dressed in casual attire, appears as a wandering troubadour, his music resonating with the quietude of the scene. This miniature man, though diminutive in size, plays a significant role in the narrative, providing a sense of companionship and shared experience. The painting's title, "Tramp," suggests a free spirit, both in the itinerant musician and the beagle, known for its adventurous and exploratory nature. Kosow's piece is an ode to the wandering souls and the moments of unexpected harmony they encounter. Through "Tramp," we are reminded of the melodies that score our journeys and the silent kinship we find along the way. It is an invitation to embrace the music of life, to find connection in the tranquility of existence, and to acknowledge the symphonies that unfold in the presence of kindred spirits, regardless of their size or form. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Capture (girl soldier surrealist oil painting sleeping child portrait figurative
Capture (girl soldier surrealist oil painting sleeping child portrait figurative

Capture (girl soldier surrealist oil painting sleeping child portrait figurative

By Rudolf Kosow

Located in Quebec, Quebec

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...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Defender (dog, hunter, pet black Lab, man, animal, surrealist painting, american
Defender (dog, hunter, pet black Lab, man, animal, surrealist painting, american

Defender (dog, hunter, pet black Lab, man, animal, surrealist painting, american

By Rudolf Kosow

Located in Quebec, Quebec

This poignant painting by Rudolf Kosow presents us with a remarkable visual allegory rich with surrealistic influences. The canvas is occupied by a colossal, detailed black labrador ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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)

By Rudolf Kosow

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...

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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)

By Rudolf Kosow

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

Category

2010s Surrealist Rudolf Kosow

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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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.