Article and photos by Yulia Rock
In Kiryat Bialik, Israel, Adi Kraus, grew up without any art in his life. As far as he knew, nobody in his family had any artistic inclinations. But Kraus, 48, a man of medium height with dark short hair, was always curious about art.
In the army, working as a tank mechanic, Kraus passed the time using a knife to carve soap into tiny figures. “I just did it for fun,” said Kraus. After the army, he studied architecture at Western Galilee College in Acre, Israel. “It was a practical form of art,” he remarked.
After working for a top architectural firm for three years, he decided to do his dream trip, “before I got stuck in life.” He quit his job and, with his now wife, bought two one-way tickets to India. For a year and a half, they traveled through southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
“It was all amazing,” Kraus said, “India was very spiritual. In Burma we saw very poor village people, but they smiled so much. It was like so much happiness that I started reevaluating my life.”
Now, Kraus lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and runs a closet-design business, which he treats as a part-time job, while devoting the rest of his time to his artwork. To support his family – he’s been married for 27 years and has two children – Kraus needed to find a niche that was relatable to his job background. And, in 2011, he launched a closet-design business, New Closet. “I’m not trying to develop my business too much; I don’t want it to occupy my life. As long as it brings enough to live,” he said.
Kraus shares a studio with friends at the YOHO Artist Studios where he works in clay and often plays the guitar. Twenty years ago, while traveling in Australia, Kraus discovered sculpture after meeting a sculptor who showed him different techniques. He kept sculpture as a hobby for two decades and took a few courses at Art Student League in Manhattan. A few years ago, he began developing his own techniques.
Last year, he participated in a group art show at Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition. But only a month ago, Kraus said, did he decide to pursue his art career seriously. At the recent YOHO Artists Open Studio weekend, for the first time, Kraus put prices on his work.
“They are based on the size,” Kraus said. The smaller pieces cost $800, and the large pieces start at $3,000. Before that, he could not even think about selling. “I think it’s time to let them go because I have no room on the walls,” he said. This coming September, he will join the Affordable Art Fair at Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea. “Hopefully, it will push my art further,” said Kraus.
