Biography and Artist Statement

Biography:

Andrew Koloski (b. 1987) grew up in the suburbs of Long Island, New York. Koloski was interested in performance from a young age; he’d entertain the other children with songs and skits. He endured bullying at school which led to severe mental illness and social isolation. After experiencing a few setbacks, Koloski graduated from Stony Brook University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Specialization in Marketing, with a Minor in Media Arts. For a media class, Koloski acted in the Shakespeare play, Macbeth, as The Porter.

After college, Koloski’s passion for performance resumed. He is self-taught and has years of experience through YouTube videos and social media posts. Although many of his videos are serious discussions about mental health, he often plays the sensational and comical "Cell Waters" character. Cell Waters is like a professional wrestling or comic book character, which is based on Koloski's personality with the volume turned WAY UP.

Aside from videos, Koloski also draws. He began coloring while on the psychiatric ward and in recovery groups. Although they're not technically skilled drawings, art teachers have described these drawings as attention-grabbing and honest. Koloski is at the forefront of new media, using the internet for self-promotion.

Artist Statement:

I am a performance artist, actor, and comedian who utilizes the internet for self-expression. I've created hundreds of YouTube videos - some are related to mental health while others are sensational performances, but I don't stick to one genre. Videos are therapeutic for me - I feel validated, heard, and get pleasure from creating them. Aside from YouTube videos, I like to write and model in photographs, but my second biggest artistic achievement is my drawings, which are usually done with markers, crayons, or oil pastels. They're child-like and some have called them psychological.

Andrew Koloski

akoloski87@gmail.com