GIANNIS STRATIS
G iannis Stratis says that he is troubled to see mankind’s social values “absorbed” by materialism and technology. His style stays consistent with these thoughts about the human condition and his paintings reflect an expression and balance of this view. Audiences can clearly understand his inner conflict with man’s division of priorities and consequential quest for optimism.
Stratis’s works often employ a certain order or type of pattern­ing. This aspect is not the focus but gradually becomes notice­able, just as life retains a basis of uniformity that is not readily apparent. Stratis also utilizes bold outlines; this separation of sub­ject matter from its background, and/or the definition of internal components generate both a feeling of secure boundaries and a sense of isolation. However, by obliterating details such as fa­cial features, and utilizing elements of surprise and playfulness, Stratis achieves enlightenment in his art, suggesting that hope does exist. Stratis paints with oils and mixed media on a variety of surfaces in monochromatic or oppositional palettes, and this choice may represent the two primary states of mind: compla­cency versus struggle.
Stratis was born in Greece and has been involved with many local, national, and international professional art associations, and was named President of the Art Committee for the Special Olympics in Athens in 2004. Since 1995, he has had 110 show­ings in Greece, Mexico, Spain, Paris, Italy, Turkey, Japan, and the United States. Giannis Stratis has received four honorary di­plomas, four international first place awards, five gold medals, and several special recognitions for his work. He has been the subject of over 350 articles and allusions in newspapers and mag­azines, and has granted approval to references by art historians, art critics, art directors, professors, and museum curators from many countries. The paintings of Giannis Stratis can be found in the Athens Presidential Residence, the Greek Parliament, the Museum Nocosia in Cyprus, and countless galleries and private collections throughout the world.
In addition to painting, his achievements and interests include jewelry design, photography, poetry, literature, piano perfor­mance, and art collecting. It appears that Giannis Stratis broad­ens his love of art by living it as well! Website:http://www.art-mine.com/ArtistPage/Giannis_Stratis.aspx
The Tree of Life Mixed Media on Card 15”x 10.5”
Dance on the Elgin Marbles Mixed Media on Card 9”x 13”