Creating joy, beauty, and hope through art Artist Iphigenia Gossios Burg’s work on display
ASHBY >> Accomplished Artist Iphigenia Gossios Burg, a native of Greece and resident of Fitchburg, is celebrating her creativity with a solo art exhibit on display from Saturday, March 2 through Saturday, April 27, at the Ashby Free Public Library, 812 Main St.
An opening reception will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2; where you can meet the artist, view her work, and enjoy some refreshments.
Gossios Burg has lived all over the world where she absorbed many artistic traditions. From early childhood on, Gossios Burg has always displayed a gift for artistic expression. She continues to learn, develop her abilities, and refine her craft.
Born in Greece in 1957, she moved to Germany with her family at age 9. She then lived in one of the great European capitals, Vienna, Austria, as a teenager. Having learned so much in Europe, she later came to the United States when she was in her 20s.
“At the University of Massachusetts Boston, I studied art and developed a freestyle using media such as oil pastel, charcoal, oil paint, and acrylic,” said Gossios Burg. “Later turning my passion towards collage and mixed media. Today my work includes acrylics with mixed media and collages, oil-pastels, watercolors, alcohol inks and more.”
From 1992 to 2000, she lived in Pasadena, Calif., where she worked at the U.S. Center for World Mission as a full-time artist. She later won honors there as Artist of the Year.
In California, Gossios Burg taught art to middle school and high school students there. She also did the artwork for various magazines and newspapers. She worked on several special projects that are still on the Pasadena campus, including tapestries, murals, and other large-scale pieces.
Gossios Burg was a participating artist at the Leominster Art Center & Gallery, was a member of the Board of Directors from 2011 to 2015 and has been an important advisor there for the arts.
She had put together the First Friday events in curating The Artist of the Month, bringing live musicians from the local area to perform, and also establishing a curriculum for children’s activities.
She believes that these events have brought the community together for the arts.
In addition to her work as a painter, Gossios Burg is also a photographer, and her passion has expanded in making
art jewelry as well as other
art forms of expression with mixed media.
“I always thrive for new ideas and enjoy being involved in art festivals and art shows in the area,” Gossios Burg said. “I enjoyed painting a mural for the Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella in 2022 that is visual in downtown’s Main Street Café’s alley.”
Gossios Burg also has a passion for helping other artists in her community to become known and be successful.
She established The Village Art Show, which has been active since 2016, that brings other artists together, such as musicians and poets etc.
Gossios Burg also has developed over the years her own brand that is called Iphigeniart — which is the name of her own business.
Based in Fitchburg, since 2005, Gossios Burg participates in many art exhibitions in her area and works with different art associations throughout Massachusetts.
She was voted as vice president of the Greater Gardner Art Association in June 2023. She teaches various classes and unique techniques of her own and demonstrated her skills to many places including local television shows and after-school programs.
Among all her accomplishments, Iphigenia, or Iphie Burg — as her friends call her — is known in her area as an art activist and a deep spiritual individual.
“I believe art is the source of a healthy life,” she said. “Naturally given by our Creator — a passion we all have as humans to create and follow our destiny in every aspect that brings joy, beauty, hope and purpose in people’s life journeys.”
The community is welcome to visit the exhibit during Ashby Free Public Library hours, which are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays. The library is closed Fridays, Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays.
For more information on this art exhibit, or other library events, visit ashbylibrary.org or call 978-386-5377. For more information on Iphigenia Gossios Burg, visit her website at Iphigenia@comcast.net.