Elias Kafouros (b. 1978, Athens, Greece), one of the most prominent Greek visual artists of his generation, intricately weaves complex and vivid compositions, drawing inspiration from an array of influences, including film, online culture, Renaissance painting, and Buddhist meditation mandalas. His artworks transcend the conventional boundaries of traditional paint on canvas, inviting viewers into an experiential realm.
Rooted in a profound philosophical mindset, Elias Kafouros channels his early childhood experiences, meditation, cinema, animation, and internet culture into a series of "constructions." His works, perceived more as constructions than paintings in terms of composition, represent a distinct approach to art. The deliberate density of his virtuosic compositions generates an utterly hypnotizing effect, gradually revealing itself as a deeply personal and processual revelation, transcending mere visual acknowledgment of a singular image.
Kafouros has held solo exhibitions, including ‘Impersonal Trainer’ at Dio Horia Gallery, Athens, ‘Push Buttons’ at Dio Horia Gallery, Athens; ‘Incognito’ at Dio Horia Gallery, Mykonos; ‘The Image is Unsustainable’ at Francoise Heitsch Gallery, Munich; ‘A Thesis on the Shelf’at AD Gallery, Athens; ‘High on Definition’ at Volta 7, Basel. Kafouros’ group exhibitions include: ‘A Vibrant Sanctuary’ at UNTITLED Miami, Dio Horia Gallery, Miami; ‘Nikos Alexiou. The Collection’, Curated by Polina Kosmadaki, Yorgos Tzirtzilakis, Benaki Museum, Athens, 'NOW' at Art021, Dio Horia Gallery, Shanghai; 'Theorems III', ASFA, Athens; ‘Cities of Men’, Kydoniefs Foundation, Andros; 'After Hope', Dio Horia Gallery, Athens; ‘Art-Athina Pop Up’, Dio Horia Gallery, Athens; ‘Symbols andIconic Ruins’ at National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens; ‘Newer Revolutionary Narratives-Transitions of an Ideal Nation’, J&E Vatis Art Hall, Syros; ‘Caritas Romana:15 Acts of Devotion’, Main exhibition of the 59th Thessaloniki International Film Festival at Thessaloniki Center of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki.
His work has been featured in Hypebeast, Artforum and in Vitamin D2 among others. Kafouros has been commissioned by Hèrmes to create a series of designs for the legendary Hèrmes silk scarves. In 2013, he was the recipient of the Fulbright Foundation Grant.