Aimilios Metaxas, born in 1999 in Athens, Greece, is a rising star in the contemporary art scene. Although he is still early in his career, he has already carved out a remarkable presence. His work exists at the intersection of the tangible and the ethereal, infusing life into a space where the physical and spiritual worlds meet. With a unique approach that pushes the limits of traditional painting, Metaxas produces evocative pieces that provoke thought and invite deeper contemplation.
Beginning his artistic path at a young age under the guidance of a visual development artist from Disney and Pixar, Aimilios received a scholarship to study painting and visual arts at NABA in Milan. He completed his MA in Painting at the Royal College of Art in 2023. His artistic influences include notable figures such as Takashi Murakami, Izumi Kato, Carl Fabergé, and Eyvind Earle. His creations often resemble intricate tapestries or jewel-encrusted surfaces. Gaining early recognition from solo exhibitions in Athens in 2021, his work has since attracted international acclaim with recent displays in London, San Francisco, and China.
Currently splitting his time between London and Athens, Aimilios draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of his birthplace, located at the crossroads of East and West. His painting practice serves as the foundation of his artistic language, deeply informed by a commitment to history, materiality, and the psychological forces that shape identity.
His canvases are alive with figures that defy traditional conventions, often framed with intricately hand-embroidered silk and semi-precious stones. These elements reflect his ancestry as silk traders in the Byzantine Empire and honor his mother’s embroidery, symbolizing care and continuity. For Metaxas, this meticulous craftsmanship acts as a metaphor for maternal love—a protective embrace that offers grounding and safety. Through this lens, his work captures the spirit and psychological openness of childhood while engaging with the complexities of adult life.
Using an instinctive painting approach, Metaxas applies pigment directly to the canvas, allowing his raw emotions to surface without the constraints of conscious thought. His compositions often feature jewel-adorned, cartoon-like figures that invite viewers into a realm of shared humanity rooted in intuition, innocence, and emotional authenticity.
Rooted in history yet reaching out to the spiritual, these enigmatic figures reflect the liminal space between the physical and metaphysical realms. Blending psychological depth, childlike wonder, and material sophistication, Aimilios continues to intrigue and challenge audiences across cultural divides.
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