George Raftopoulos was born in Sydney
1972, and lives and works in Sydney. He attained a Bachelor
of Arts, Visual Arts, University of Western Sydney from
1992 - 1994. In 1996 he finalised a Postgraduate Diploma,
at Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University.
Raftopoulos' canvases investigate memory and travel.
Exotic Greek Island beaches, sweeping Australian bush
vistas, frenetic New York streetscapes all appear through
a visual language that relies heavily on a textured
composition of colour, space and line. Raftopoulos'
paintings have developed into sophisticated expressions
that command your attention and draw you in for a closer
inspection, repeatedly revealing something new with
every fresh glance.
Paint is squeezed from tube to canvas, raw colour is
scraped onto foundations of layered paint that has been
permitted to dry momentarily. Increasingly with every
layer a history of each painting is developed and is
negated by frantic scraping as a reminder of times and
memories gone by. On and off again the materials are
worked onto the canvas. The vivid colours, encapsulate
memory and experiences. Referenced by numbers and abstract
letters they act as a map of personal history, a personal
landscape
.a moment in time that has been transformed
into a language that has come to be a signature of Raftopoulos'
work.
The paintings act as a map of memory. Random numbers
signify a metaphysical, geographic reference. The numbers
are points of longitude and latitude guiding us to the
place from which the painting arose. "The numbers
and Greek lettering are my stamp on the historical tableau.
Greek mythology collides with my personal mythology"
says Raftopoulos.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008
Paintings, Abri Agency, New York
2007
Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
2006
Art Galleries Schubert, Queensland
Paul Gullotti Galleries, Perth
Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2005
Axia Modern Art, Melbourne
Axia Modern Art, Sydney
2004
Axia Modern Art, Melbourne
Axia Modern Art, Sydney
Gallery Phillip Neville, Darwin
2003
Bark Modern Art Gallery, Hong Kong
Axia Modern Art, Melbourne
Australian Art Resources, Melbourne
2001
Axia Modern Art, Melbourne
Liquid, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney
Paris Print Biennale, Australian High Commission, Paris,
France
2000
Bilbao, Michael Carr Art Dealer, Sydney
1999
Volvo Gallery, Sydney
1998
Olsen Carr Art Dealers, Sydney
1997
Vargo Gallery, Bourdeaux, France
1996
Olsen Carr Art Dealers, Sydney
COLLECTIONS
Gold Coast Art Gallery, Queensland; University
of Western Sydney, Sydney; The Art Trust, Sydney and
Melbourne; ABN AMRO, Sydney; Impulse Airlines, Wagga
Wagga; Multiplex and Walker Corporation, Wharf Nine,
Sydney; Babcock and Browne, Sydney; Westpoint Corporation,
Sydney; The Royal Flying Doctors Service; The Chocolate
Factory, Sydney; Novell, Sydney; Westpac Property Fund,
Sydney; Maddens Solicitors, Sydney; NDC Global, Sydney;
Hugo's Lounge, Sydney; Landmine Survivors Network, Washington
DC, USA; Prebon Yemone Brokers, New York, USA; Pitcher
Partners, Melbourne; Credit Suisse, Melbourne.