An inspired and outrageous, entirely hand painted and created paper-mache decorative mask by Hannes Bok in exuberant, outlandish art deco Egyptian – Orientalist style. One of our favorite illustrators, Bok was born Wayne Woodard and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. As an adult, the artist carved out a meager living as an illustrator and “part time astrologer.” What we love most about Bok is his steadfast idealism and refusal to conform to the whims and rigors of publishing trends. Not surprisingly Bok died penniless in New York City. As today’s collectors and scholars unearth the lost history of the pulps the star of Hannes Bok burns brighter than at any time during his long and prolific career.

This was likely created as fine art by the talented and unusual Bok, who often put his own spin on what was considered the cutting edge of art and illustration. Other illustrators–most notably W.T. Benda–created masks for various avant-garde dance troops in New York City during the Art Deco jazz-age and most likely, Bok was inspired by Benda’s work to try his own hand at mask making.