Jannis Varelas Greek, b. 1977

Jannis Varelas (b. 1977, Athens) lives and works between Athens, Vienna and Los Angeles. He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts and earned an MFA from the Royal College of Art, London. 

 

Varelas’ work explores the complexities of the human condition through a fusion of abstraction and representation. His paintings reconstruct reality from fragmented details, much like an archeological excavation, transforming ordinary objects into symbols of deeper meaning. Using a dynamic and expressive technique, he layers signs and symbols reminiscent of automatic drawing and childhood sketches. At the core of his practice is the body : both as a physical form and a vessel of identity. Through staged compositions involving models, costumes and constructed interiors, he explores identity, the collective subconscious and repressed desires.

 

His work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions internationally including Palais de Tokyo (Paris, France) and Kunsthalle Wien (Vienna, Austria) [ADD DATES]; Galerie Krinzinger (Vienna, Austria, 2022); The Breeder (Athens, Greece, 2022); Galerie Forsblom (Helsinki, Finland, 2020); Tennis Elbow/The Journal Gallery (New York, United States, 2019); Anima I, The Benaki Museum (Athens, Greece, 2019); Galerie Forsblom (Stockholm, Sweden, 2018); Monster, Onassis Cultural Center (Athens, Greece, 2017); James Fuentes Gallery (New York, United States, 2016).

 

Jannis Varelas’ works are part of numerous public collections worldwide including The Albertina Museum (Vienna, Austria); Belvedere Museum (Vienna, Austria); The AMMA Foundation Collection (Mexico); Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art (Helsinki, Finland); The Benaki Museum (Athens, Greece); The Onassis Foundation Collection (Athens, Greece); The Dakis Joannou Collection (Greece); Space K Collection (Seoul, South Korea); EMΣΤ / National Museum of Contemporary Arts (Athens, Greece).