George Raftopoulos

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.

In his most recent works for Hill Smith Gallery in September 2010, the paintings are a reflection on the madness of NY, conversation and soundbytes gained from quickly whipping past people on the streets of NY!, These have harnessed stories of intrigue within this body of work to create a modern day personal mythology, reflecting how we see our ourselves within the context of our immediate experiences and envioronments.

In other works, 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
2010
Soundbytes, Hill Smith Gallery, Adelaide
Tim olsen Gallery, Sydney
Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
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
2010
Reis Gallery, Singapore
Frockstars, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, in Association with Alex Perry for Fashion Week
2008
Flinders Lane Gallery, Melbourne
Annual Round Table Exhibition, New York Arts Club, Grammercy Arts Club, NY, USA
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
Private Commission for major yacht construction - New Zealand; 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.