Interview
Vicky Andriotis
Vicky Andriotis was born in Athens, Greece in 1968 during a very chaotic time when the Greek Military Junta, the Dictatorship commonly known as the Regime of the Colonels, had overthrown the existing government. In 1970, and in order to escape life under this new government, her family secretly arranged to leave the country and emigrated to the United States.
Vicky, an autodidact, is a painter of moods and experiences. The first time she remembers drawing anything in earnest was on the day her father died, when she was 10 years old. As a child, this felt like the only way that she could adequately convey her emotions and her journey. She continued to paint throughout her life, though her art was by heart and not yet by trade. In 2016, after another equally traumatic event, she turned to her art for solace.
Just as she did when she was a little girl, Vicky used her art speak for her; to say the things there were no words for. From that moment on, she began to live urgently, purposefully, and fearlessly…with her eyes open, with wonder, and with awe. Not long after, she began to share her gift and pursue her passion and accept what she had been born to do.
Nowadays, Vicky is just as likely to create her work on canvas as she is a Rolling Stones or comic book themed guitar, a Jackson Pollock style violin, a classic zither, a van Gogh style VW hubcap, or even approach a 1920s typewriter with psychedelic Day-Glo colors. In 2020, one of her guitar creations—a Jimi Hendrix-themed Fender Stratocaster—was used in the studio for Walmart’s Christmas TV commercial featuring Aretha Franklin’s voice.
Her work has been featured in Art World News Magazine, VENÜ Magazine, Westport Lifestyle Magazine, and Art & Music Magazine online (Saatchi Gallery of London's official magazine) several times. She has also been profiled by Art World News Magazine and the Boston Voyager and featured in the "Thought Provokers" section. Additional works can be found at Saatchi Art. When she is not working on her art, she is studying Modern Art, the Impressionists, as well as Philosophy at the University of Oxford (UK), and occasionally takes courses in textile design at Parson's School of Design.
What inspires you most?
“There are many things that inspire my art. One day, it might be the time I spend in nature, the next, an interaction with a person with whom I've come in contact. But nothing inspires me more than music and the emotions and memories that it triggers. Surrounding myself with musical instruments in my studio also inspires my work.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I don't purposely pursue any particular theme or message, except that I hope I convey the vulnerability, openness, and honesty in whatever emotion or experience a piece of work represents. Whether it is meant to express joy or pain, or a sense of awe, excitement, or serenity, my hope is that it's obvious that I am not holding back.”
How would you describe your work?
“I like to think that I don't pigeonhole myself into a particular style. I paint what I see, as I see it in my mind's eye on any given day. Today a bird might just look like a bird, tomorrow it might be random lines and triangles in motion. Abstract, Impressionism, Expressionism. However, though my style may vary from painting to painting, I believe that my bold use of color ties them all together somehow. It is often reminiscent of Fauvism.”
If I am faced with a creative block, I can turn to my music by picking up one of my musical instruments or a microphone. I usually find that that is enough to get my creative juices flowing.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I believe Cezanne has had the greatest impact on me, although my first love as a teenager was the work of Toulouse-Lautrec, but I also grew up loving Patrick Nagel. So my taste in art is very diverse. I do have a deep appreciation for Picasso's work, as well as his ability to change styles frequently and successfully.”
What is your creative process like?
“I paint in the evening so that during the day, I can spend my time in nature or have a variety of social interactions. This feeds my art, sparks creativity, opens my mind, influences my emotions, as well as my energy. When I sit down to paint, I'm able to translate all of it onto my canvas.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My latest works are currently on exhibit and can be purchased through the Westport River Gallery in Westport, CT. Online, I am represented by TRiCERA Art, Japan. I'm an official sketchbook artist of the Brooklyn Art Library in Brooklyn, New York, where my sketchbooks can be viewed and are part of their permanent collection. My work has been included in a show at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and at Van's store in Brooklyn. Additional works can be found at Saatchi Art.”
