The art world mourns the loss of Stelios Faitakis, a renowned contemporary Greek artist celebrated for his Byzantine-inspired modern paintings blending Greek Orthodox iconography with street art. Faitakis, who was 47 at the time of his passing, left an indelible mark on the art scene with his groundbreaking creations.
Born in Athens, Faitakis honed his artistic talents at the Athens School of Fine Arts, a pivotal period during which he delved into icon painting courses. This formative experience would go on to greatly influence his artistic journey.
Faitakis first gained recognition under the pseudonym “Bizare” in the burgeoning street art movement of the early 2000s. His pioneering contributions to this evolving art form captured the imagination of many.
In 2007, Faitakis garnered significant attention after participating in the Athens Biennale, where he unveiled the striking mural titled “Socrates drinking the hemlock.”
It marked a turning point in his career, leading to his participation in the Venice Biennale 2011.
He illuminates the many, often uncomfortable truths about modern Greek particularly the the economic crisis of 2008 -2017. His visions of Greece combined religious-like scenes of conflict, and chaos, and more than any other artist he captured the rage of the Greek Financial Crisis, and the social collapse of Greece.
His Byzantine inspired works reflected contemporary concerns such as the suffering of refugees, greed and an increasing gap between poverty and wealth, and the horror of war.
Subsequently, Faitakis’ works found their way into galleries and museums worldwide, including prominent exhibitions in Paris and Kyiv, solidifying his reputation as a unique artist who merged tradition with contemporary expression.
The art world morns the passing of Stelios Faitakis, an artist whose innovative spirit and artistic had such a dramatic impact on the Greek contemporary visual art narrative. As testament to his impact his work belongs to but the Byzantine and contemporary world.