About my art journey
I began my arts studies at The Fashion Institute of Technology programs for NYC high school students. I opted to study Fashion Illustration with Karen [Pritchett] Neumann, since it incorporated study of human anatomy, figure drawing, color and design. Although raised in the Greek Orthodox Church with its rich visual imagery, it was a chance opportunity to travel to Greece at sixteen that awakened my interest in ecclesiastic iconography in the Byzantine tradition. In my freshman year of college I embarked on formal training in Byzantine Ecclesiastic Iconography with Vladislav Andreyev at The School of Sacred Arts from 1986 through 1992, when the school closed. In that time I executed three icons. From 1989 – 1996, I was drawing at Joe Catuccio’s studio, The Project For Living Artists in SoHo. While in my second year at Queens College as an English major, I continued my art studies with Rosemary Beck and Jenny Snyder.
In 1990 I won a position in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program at CUNY / Queens College. Among the many teachers I studied with were Rosemary Beck, Robert Birmelin, Harold Bruder, Gabriel Laderman, Jenny Snyder, and Harry Kramer. At the Art Students League, I studied drawing with Hilda D’Alessio in that same year.
In 1994, I received my Masters in Science in Secondary Education with a concentration in English Literature from the graduate program of Secondary Education from CUNY / Queens College. Then in 1994 I was introduced to Minerva Durham’s Spring Studio and began studying anatomy.
In 2003 I returned to the Art Students League and continued my studies in anatomy and sculpture with Barney Hodes as well as explored the limits of relief sculpture, both of bas and outré relief. From 2011 to 2014, under Sylia’s advisement in the Mixed Media and Assemblage class at the Art Students League, my project was to explore the different iterations in the assembly of her Triptychs from her show, “Drawings and Collages”, of which the 2013 presentation earned me a Blue Dot.
My relationship with Spring Studio began in 1994 shortly after the Studio’s move to it’s present location at 64 Spring Street. I have participated in many annual Anniversary and special exhibitions. I have also painted at Minerva Durham’s Crosby Painting Studio from 2002 to 2006, and participated in many of the group shows. I had one solo painting exhibition at the Crosby Painting Studio in 2006 before the studio closed in that same year. In 2010, I had my first solo exhibition at Spring Studio entitled “Drawings and Collages”. Sylia Kiese entitled, “Artist’s Writing”.
I am continuing my studies at the Art Students League with Barney Hodes in a life sculpture course. Formerly, I studied with Sylia Kiese in a course entitled “Artist’s Writing.” This course was designed to incorporate literature from diverse fields as a catalyst for writing and developing ideas for projects as well as writing about one’s work. I have also resumed my anatomy studies, both independently and with Minerva Durham.
eleni papageorge
Why I love being creative
I love the freedom of expression inherent in the visual arts. I have an unending passion for drawing and painting through which I manipulate limitless arrangements of shapes, line and color.
The human figure and face are the central themes of my work, because they can express a wide array of meanings and emotions. Even if the human form is transformed into pure abstraction, it remains a powerful motif because of its archetypal nature.
A significant element in my work depicts universal human narratives. Whether through figure, portrait or narrative, I enjoy portraying humanity in all its forms and colors.
