Artist Spotlight: “Kapone Is Ill”

Name: “Kapone Is Ill”

City: Hollywood, Florida.

Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria

Artistic Medium: Acrylics, collage—Anything I can get my hands on.

How did you get started?
Measuring lines of buildings in architecture books and studying comic book art.

Who or what are your influences?
Comic books, fashion shows, women, Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, Humberto Ramos, Salvador Dali, hip hop music, Dr. Doom, Tan Eng Huat, Henry Matisse, Mom and Dad, jazz music, Andy Warhol, color, Megatron, life, movies, books.

What inspires your work?
Architecture, faces, shoes, geometric shapes, the female anatomy, sharp pencils, blank paper or canvas, funky looking patterns, clothing.

How does Miami/South Florida influence your work?
I love it when I get bored and ride the S bus to South Beach. I get to see Miami on a $2 tour that starts from the Aventura Mall. The buildings, the beaches, the horizon of endless shapes, the traffic, the sunshine—now that’s inspiration!

How would you describe your work?
Funky type fresh, getting fresher by the minute.

What has been the most unusual reaction to your work from the public?
My erotica collection shocked a lot of people when it was released and shown on my website. Some said I was really ill.

What would you like to achieve as an artist?
I really don’t know—maybe just to have enough cash flow to keep the art supplies coming in. Art is my life and is really all I know, so I will keep at it regardless of where it takes me.

Upcoming shows:
Through August 22 I am showing at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, for the Red Eye exhibition. 954-462-8190, www.artserve.org.

I will paint live and display some new art pieces at the Comfort Zone Studios, 2028 Harrison St., Hollywood, for ArtWalk on Saturday, August 16. 954-923-2030, www.comfortzonespa.com.

Where is your work available?
My website, www.kaponeisill.com

Don't Step On My Shoes Fool, 24 x 36, Multimedia On Board, $1200

Fly Guy-Fly Tie, 24 x3 6,Multimedia On Recycled Board, $500

Purple Clutch, 24 x 36, Avrylics & Multimedia On Board, $1875

Louis Vuitton Vs. KiiLL, 30 x 40, Multimedia On Canvas, $1875

Thinking Man, 16 x 20,Acrylic On Canvas, $1000

The Black Madonna 2, 24 x 36,Multimedia On Board, $3000

If you are an artist and would like to be a part of Artist Spotlight, contact Mary Damiano at StarrWriter2000@aol.com