Meet Kosta Kulundzic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kosta Kulundzic and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kosta, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As an artist, curator, gallery director, and book editor, my work has always been guided by one central intention: to produce and share beauty.

Through exhibitions, publications, and collaborative projects, I strive to create spaces where people can gather around art — spaces that offer not only visual pleasure, but depth, reflection, and connection. In a world that often feels fragmented or overwhelmed, I believe art can create meaningful pauses in time; moments where communities come together to experience something elevating and human.

When I recently reflected on my career, I realized that this has been the common thread in everything I do: the desire to bring beautiful and thoughtful experiences to the community. Whether through large-scale exhibitions, student mentorship, or publishing art books, my goal is to make art accessible, inspiring, and transformative.

Beauty is not superficial. It has the power to heal, to unite, and to remind us of what is essential. If my work contributes to that (even in a small way) then I believe it serves a social purpose.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work lives at the intersection of the sacred and the contemporary.

I was trained in classical painting in Paris, deeply influenced by Christian iconography and art history. But over time, I began blending those foundations with elements of popular culture — cinema, graphic novels, surf culture, street aesthetics. That dialogue between high culture and “low” culture became central to my language. I am interested in spirituality in a modern world, in how mythologies survive inside contemporary life.

What sets me apart, perhaps, is that I never separated my artistic practice from my curatorial and educational work. I don’t only make paintings,I create exhibitions, cultural platforms, books, and live events that bring artists and communities together. My practice is both personal and collective.

I am especially proud of the way my work evolved after moving to Hawai‘i. The ocean and the island changed me. Surfing is not just a hobby; it reshaped my philosophy. My exhibition Hawaii Epiphany marked a turning point : I shifted from painting the fractures of the world to seeking beauty, grace, and mysticism in everyday life. That evolution felt honest and necessary.

Was the journey easy? Not at all.

I changed countries, languages, and cultural contexts. I navigated doubt, financial instability, institutional resistance, and personal reinvention. There were moments where I had to rebuild everything from scratch, professionally and emotionally. But I learned that resilience is part of the artistic path. Reinvention is not failure; it is growth.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that longevity matters more than speed. Building a career in art is not about trends or quick visibility, it’s about consistency, integrity, and vision. It’s about staying aligned with your inner compass even when circumstances shift.

What I want the world to know about me is this: I believe in beauty as a powerful force. Not superficial beauty, but the kind that gathers people, that creates meaning, that reconnects us to something essential. Whether through a painting, a surf-inspired exhibition, or an art book, my goal is always the same to create moments of intensity, presence, and connection.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re planning to visit Oʻahu for a week, I would strongly recommend dividing your stay between two very different energies of the island.

Start in Waikīkī. Whatever people say, Waikīkī is Waikīkī; iconic, cinematic, charged with that unmistakable Hawaiian postcard feeling. Hike Diamond Head at sunrise, surf the mellow waves at Queens or Canoes, sip a cocktail at Duke’s, and visit one of the coolest tiki bars on the island, Heyday at the White Sands Hotel. And of course, end your day watching the sunset on the beach. It’s timeless for a reason.

Then head to the North Shore.

As a surfer, I can’t speak about Oʻahu without mentioning what we call the “Seven Mile Miracle” : the legendary stretch of coastline home to some of the most famous waves in the world. Pipeline, Backdoor, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach… Even if you don’t surf, you can feel the raw power and mythology of the place. Have dinner at Haleʻiwa Joe’s, enjoy a drink at Turtle Bay, and don’t miss fresh poke from one of the local spots in Haleʻiwa.

And if you want an arty break, Oʻahu offers strong cultural anchors: the Honolulu Museum of Art, Capitol Modern, and Hō‘ikeākea Gallery (which I have the privilege of directing). Together, they offer a meaningful glimpse into Hawai‘i’s artistic landscape, from historic collections to contemporary voices.

Oʻahu is not just beautiful, it’s layered. Spending time in both worlds is, to me, essential to truly connect with the island.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
would like to highlight and sincerely thank Leeward Community College in O‘ahu.

It is rare today for an academic institution to truly understand the importance of promoting art; not as decoration, but as a living, dynamic force within a community. Leeward Community College has supported a vision of the gallery as an active cultural platform, not just an exhibition space.

At a time when so much of our world is moving online, the college has encouraged me to create ambitious, large-scale art events; exhibitions that bring people physically together, that generate dialogue, and that give students direct access to professional artists and real-world creative processes.

The institution also supported the launch of our art book publishing initiative. The first edition, The Swell is Coming, is a tribute to today’s Surf Art culture; a movement that bridges tradition, contemporary art, and the oceanic identity of Hawai‘i and beyond. This kind of long-term cultural investment would not be possible without institutional trust and belief.

That support has allowed the gallery to become more than a space, it has become a meeting point for artists, students, and the broader community.

I am deeply grateful for that vision and confidence.

Website: https://www.kulundzic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kulundzic/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kosta.kulundzic

Other: The official website for Hō‘ikeākea Gallery ( the gallery I direct at Leeward Community College) is

https://www.leeward.hawaii.edu/hoikeakea/

Image Credits
No credits