(Born in Albania in 1964) Kote’s trade marks are his bold brush work and sweeping strokes of vibrant colors applied - more often than not - with a pallet knife, while other areas of the canvas are left monochromatic and devoid of detail creating a negative space that lets the eye drift to infinity. The results are paintings that tremble in stillness with energy and light. Influenced by many places where he lived, Albanian born artist J.Kote began his journey towards artistic self-discovery in his youth and never looked back. From very young age he was endlessly drawing and had the innate urge to create. By the age of 13 he had made up his mind to become an artist and devote his life to the arts. He focused on getting accepted into the finest art high school of his native Albania. Ultimately, after competing locally and nationally, he was awarded a coveted spot at ‘’National Lyceum of Arts’’ in Tirana. In 1984 Kote followed this amazing feat by being accepted into the ‘’Academy of Fine Arts’’ of Tirana, where J.K was educated in the traditional approach of the old masters. Yet even as a student he wanted to brake loose of the limitations, he wanted to experiment and grow, sometimes leave paintings seemingly unfinished, shatter the boundaries of classic realism. While still in school Kote also worked at a movie studio, and made a small but well received animation film Lisi. In 1988 Kote graduated with a diploma in painting and scenography. The years of practice and his 8 year solid art education had prepared the young artist well to pursue his life’s quest of living and breathing art. It had set him on his lifelong journey to find his own unique style and language, to create stupendous paintings pulsating with the light and energy that he sees all around him. Only the future will reveal the great heights his art will ascend. Certainly one thing holds true for all of Kote’s master works: they capture shimmering moments in time and space and are filled with light, energy and love for whatever subject he chooses to portray.