Ken Volok's Profile

From: Santa Barbara, CA
Joined: April 28, 2008

About Ken Volok:

'Art is experience and discovery, for the artist and the spectator. Everything that will ever be shot has already been shot. My job is to make it an interesting and new experience. My art is both the culmination of every artist I've ever worked with or inspired me; and my personal passions and life experience. In my photography I want to embalm the split second my subject's soul shines through; or experience the frozen moment vicariously. In my film and video work I strive to sublimely achieve what Hitchcock called 'pure cinema' and take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and discovery. I want you to see things in new ways. I want you to see the beauty in you.'

Ken Volok


'The portraits breathe with nature, form, and energy.'

Michael Kearns

“Volok’s photographs are visually inventive and very human on top of being sexy.”

Howard Cruse, author of Stuck Rubber Baby and Wendel

'Very few people have his particular and thorough grasp of American culture; very few have the ability to so beautifully exploit this knowledge. As an artist (particularly as a photographer) he is adept at portraying beauty—human and otherwise.'

George Delmerico, Art Director (Retired)
Village Voice, Giorno Poetry Systems,
Santa Barbara Independent

"Great vision and concepts."

Olivia Donovan
Senior Fashion Editor
Style-ology Magazine
Ken Volok first gained recognition as a filmmaker, actor,
photographer, stage director, painter and writer in Santa Barbara, California. While attending the University of California Santa Barbara he created four TV spots for the legendary L.A. clothier Retail Slut, and assisted with the groundbreaking documentary, Zapatista, for Big Noise Films.
After graduating, Volok has been involved in a variety of art
exhibitions throughout California and various stage and film-video projects.
Inspired by a friend, poet John Giorno, and a bloody
surfing accident, Volok founded the influential, artist-centric HE@D Magazine, which gained national attention. During this time he completed two of his short films: Oxygen in 2004; and Genuine in 2005; as well as creating a variety of
commercials. He also assisted theater icon Michael Kearns in his 20th Annviversary stage production of Jerker in 2006, which premiered at Highways performance space in Santa Monica.
In 2008 he directed two more short films, On Board?, Beauty, and began work on the experimental documentary on Santa Barbara entitled Land of Milk and Honey for the Sullivan-Goss Gallery. Land of Milk and Honey was completed in January 2009, and is released with an accompanying book of Volok's photography by the same name.

Volok's current pet projects include a feature length neo-realist suspense thriller, music videos for The Indignitaries, a surf and skate video; and a project for G2. He is also an avid surfer and skateboarder.