Interview
David Koeth
David is a California-based multi-disciplinary artist, who prefers working with recycled materials. His interests are in processes, materials, and ways of saving the planet. David received his B.F.A. form the University of Akron and his M.F.A. at the California State University in Fullerton. He was a graphic designer at California State University in Bakersfield from 1982 until 2002 and he was a professor of art at Bakersfield College from 2002 until 2022. His recent exhibitions include: Los Angeles Art Association, Indistinct Chatter An all -media exploration of abstraction in contemporary art, January 2024 and Los Angeles Art Association, Open Show, Gallery 825, January 2024. His work is included in numerous collections including: Museum of Art & History, Lancaster, California Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, California Walter W. Stiern Library, CSU Bakersfield and private collections.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was raised by resourceful and creative parents. Although they were not artists, they created things, and that’s where my love of making comes from. I took art in high school, and won several national awards, then majored in art in college, earning a BFA from the University of Akron. I moved west, and found work as a graphic designer. After earning an MFA from California State Fullerton, I was fortunate to land a full-time art professor position. Along the way, I’ve been mentored by many talented and generous people. I’ve really explored mediums and techniques, and have worked in painting, serigraphy, and sculpture.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired primarily by nature. Observing the natural world can be an immense educational experience. The hues, textures, and sounds of plants and animals never disappoint.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I’m very much interested in alerting viewers to the issue of global warming. My “Citrus Series” sculptures are commentaries on consumption, recycling, global warming, and human intervention.”
How would you describe your work?
“The citrus sculptures are additive pieces that combine process, craftsmanship, and an element of random chance. Due to the nature of citrus peel, the colors, textures, and shapes are always a surprise. Crafting these pieces is meditative, and they combine an expected outcome with random chance.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My artistic influences include: Marcel DuChamp, Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Richard Diebenkorn, Richard Serra, Ted Kerzie, Emily Maddigan.”
“I’m very much interested in alerting viewers to the issue of global warming.”
What is your creative process like?
“The “Citrus Series” started with simple observation. I noticed the way that an orange peel dried, and allowed myself to consider how I might use the material in a piece of artwork. I had no expectation that the material would yield anything, but as I began to literally pin it down, a process and a shape evolved.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Visual artists can have many roles in society. Artist can entertain, they can inform and educate, they can explore materials and processes. Increasingly, I think many artists are using their voices to expose social ills.
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“In 2021, I was invited to show the “Citrus Series” at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History. This allowed all of the pieces to be seen together for the first time. More recently, one of the citrus pieces was part of an exhibit at Gallery 825 in Los Angeles.”
