We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michalis Papakalodoukas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Michalis with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I was raised in an environment which didn’t support the arts. It was understandable when someone considers the time and the place. My family believed when I was young, that I should know to do something that will get me a job more conveniently than being an artist, so I wasn’t sent to art school like I wanted initially. I became a business owner and entrepreneur at a very young age owning my own places in the hospitality industry, and through that I would always find a way to be creative. I became self taught in the history of art and through that I found my style and form of expression through need and discipline. When I was younger I painted on wood, made sculptures from inconvenient materials, and generally worked on different aspects of my art to get me where I am today. Through it all, no matter the employment or entrepreneurial successes, the only constant in my life has been my art.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m self-taught artist, New York based painter, Michalis Papakalododoukas; and I was born in the capital of the Dodecanese, Rhodes, Greece in 1963, where I’ve lived most of my adult life.
My art is inspired by nature, man and fictional worlds. Art books are my main and constant source of artistic education. I have been a multifarious entrepreneur for many years, working in the hospitality and tourism industries back home, and the past eight years I moved with my family to New York and have worked as a chef while simultaneously working on my art.
I have participated in several group exhibitions and some of my works are exhibited in places such as the Presidential Residence and The Museum of Modern Art of the Municipality of Rhodes. Many works have also been acquired by private collectors throughout the world.
For me my art has been a constant necessity in my life. My subject matter was initially landscapes of the island of Rhodes, and also familiar faces of friends, family, even strangers, and also political matters of injustice. My all-time favorite theme, which has always fascinated me the most, is the human body. After living in New York for the past eight years, my latest work is inspired by how multicultural my new home is; That is how the multicolored people paintings were created if anyone sees my most recent works; Almost chaotic, but cohesive. Living in harmony; can’t be more New York than that! I also love working with children; Any time we have kids at home I let them paint with me and let them sign the paintings as well. Seeing the world through them and collaborating with them has been a great way for me to be re-inspired.
Anyone interest in my art and journey is welcome to follow me on my instagram @papakalodoukas_art where they can also purchase originals and prints upon request.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
This is a difficult question because I feel like many people have similar answers, but my advice would be to keep working on your art, through everything life might throw at you. To not be afraid to experiment and be messy as long as you are constant with it. The more you analyze it in your head when you do it the more difficult it might be to actually put the paintbrush down and get to a final result. Take breaks, look at it from different angles, and keep going. Second; To always grow with you art through studying the great masters of our past and present, visit museums and get inspired by different cultures and artist who might not use the same mediums as you. The more you learn the better understanding you have.
And finally, when you create something, to let it be the world’s. You created it, but it’s not yours to experience or explain anymore, let people experience it as they see it.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always open to share art ideas and work on maybe shared exhibitions or any art related work suggestions with fellow artists. I especially would love to connect with more Greek immigrant artists who live in the US, no matter the medium they use or how early on they are in their journey. Anyone can find me on my instagram @papakalodoukas_art
Contact Info:
- Instagram: papakalodoukas_art
