Cinderella story for local teacher
Like in a typical Cinderella story, the owner and principal of a local preschool who this year has been receiving international acclaim for her art, says she is waiting for the clock to strike twelve.
Georgia Argyropoulos has always loved sketching.
At first, only her husband saw her art. "I didn't think it was worth showing to other people." However, the world seems to be her oyster as international opportunities are opening up.
Around eight years ago, she recalls, a painting she made for her husband's fish market drew the attention of an art scout from Cape Town, who invited her to exhibit at the Baxter Theatre, but she let the opportunity pass, later regretting it. Around four years ago a friend coaxed her into hosting an exhibition. This being her first exhibition, Georgia should have got a clue of what was lying ahead, judging by how her art was received. KWV, at the exhibition, requested to put her work, consisting of 32 piece, on exhibition for a year.
Beauty from ashes
Georgia refers to art as an emotional outlet and a way to find balance given her busy schedule. When her house quiets down, she explains, she retreats to her garage and lets the creative juices flow.
But when a close friend died of cancer last year, grief stole Georgia's ability to paint. For a year, she could not paint.
"To reach out and reconnect with the art world, without my followers on social media platforms being able to 'see me' I made an alter ego. Through the alter ego facebook persona, I felt free enough to post my work to unknown contacts who had one common interest - art."
Soon, she started being noticed, receiving invitations to prestigious art events. At first she wondered if she was being spammed, but by doing a bit of research she realised the contrary.
Eventually she decided to accept the offer to apply from Global Art in Oxford and off to England she went in March with five canvasses. "I rolled them up and took loose sections of framing. A friend showed me how to frame and I assembled the paintings when I got there," she laughs. Once again, talent scouts sought out Georgia's work and she has been invited to exhibit her work in New York, Miami and Monaco.
'Still can't believe it'
Georgia's leap of faith to go to England triggered more doors swinging wide open. Following the Oxford exhibition, she is being awarded the International Art Prize Raffaello at a formal event in the Gnudi Palace in Bologna, Italy. Comprehensive art marketing platform ART UpCLOSE, based in New York and Miami, invited Georgia to be part of their visual art collective display at major global art events,including the Monaco Yacht Show.
The pinnacle of her fairy tale-like story, is having been approached by Art Monaco for a three-day exhibition in Monte Carlo. Moreover, she was given a generous grant to secure her participation.
"Entrance into this show is by invitation only; it is very hard to get into even as a reputable gallery and is costly." And along with this, there are listings and features in major international art magazines, plus the possibility of a solo exhibition at the Artifact Gallery in Manhattan in 2019, thanks to the See Me Community.
About art
"I could paint all day, if I didn't love my kids so much that I just wanted to love them and kiss their faces all the time." Georgia says her art makes a statement about a woman's life. "We are often trapped by the very things we love in the sense that they limit and constrict us. But in spite of this, we find joy in being female. We find room to love and ways to celebrate."
This "reluctant artist" says she still doesn't expect the fairy tale to last.
"I will enjoy this ball until the clock strikes twelve and I can return happily to my kitchen with a 'glass slipper' as a memory. Or in this case a bronze head statue of Raffaelo," she concludes with her infectious laugh.