Brad Kauzlaric: The Life & Works of a Pacific Northwest Artist

The work of prolific Washington artist Brad Kauzlaric (1936-2007) includes surrealist vistas, photorealistic still lifes, and vibrant mosaics with an unusual source of inspiration: Kauzlaric's job as a Pacific Northwest sanitation worker. He translated the people, the places, and sometimes the garbage itself that he encountered in his day job into remarkable works of art. Kauzlaric's passion for art fueled the creation of hundreds of paintings and mosaics and inspired other artists in a lifelong pursuit that began as a young college artist, spanned the turbulent 1960s and 70s, and continued until his death. In discussing a Seattle art show with one of the show's jurors, Kauzlaric questioned the judgment of another juror, who happened to be an art professor at the University of Washington. The juror asked how the opinion of a garbage man could be relevant. Kauzlaric famously replied, "I can safely say I know garbage when I see it." Brad Kauzlaric: The Life & Works of a Pacific Northwest Artist includes an intimate look at the artist's life, from his early years growing up in rural Wisconsin during the Great Depression to his home life after settling in Washington State, his interests, and his influences, alongside a wealth of photographs, notes, and ephemera from Kauzlaric's studio. Whether you're interested in discovering an unsung artist or a unique window into Pacific Northwest history, this volume tells the story of one man's creative journey in a compelling, visually engaging way that reveals there was more to this one-time sanitation engineer than met the eye. Includes more than 100 images of Kauzlaric's artworks, preliminary sketches, and unfinished works.