Greek artist Mariva Zacharof is known for drawing, installation and mixed media works that depict universal human issues with a strong sense of humour, sweetness and intensity. One of her most fascinating projects is “Life has also a lot of Grey Shades” executed in variations of black, white and red, presenting children in contexts of stress and scarcity. This was her second solo exhibition with the Municipality of Piraeus, held in December 2016.

The artist writes: “I chose a monochromatic palette based on tonality in order to express the fragile relationships that are developed when the environment becomes constricting for the children themselves. In order to reach to some aesthetic result and to realise the grey, I saw the studies of Mondrian, Giacometti and Jasper Jones on that colour; although exceptional works with grey compositions exist in Western Art since the Middle Ages. The red in my work complements or composes the hope for uplifting and sometimes the risk posed by the apathy and indifference towards children and the difficulties encountered.”

 

 

Born in Athens, Mariva was raised in Liege, Belgium and studied Fine Arts in Great Britain. She currently lives and works in Athens. She is a member of the Hellenic Chamber of the Fine Arts, and her work is part of several Archives of Greek Museums and Foundations for the Contemporary Greek Artists. She was a fellow of the Shillizzi Foundation and has been awarded by the Sidney Perry Foundation.

On November 2008, she had her first solo exhibition “Childhood Dreams”, with Astrolavos art gallery in Athens. On December 2017, she had her third solo exhibition entitled “The Child that lives within ourselves” with the Municipal Gallery of Kallithea. From 1st February till 5th of April 2018 she had her fourth solo exhibition in the Municipal Gallery LEFA of Psychico entitled “The Tree and the River”.

On 2011 she took part in the international biennial of collage and assemblage in Serbia. She represented Greece on 2012, in the 5th international Beijing Biennale. In 2013, she took part in the X-Border Biennial between Lulea, Rovaniemi and Severomorsk. In 2018, she participated in the 17th INTERBIFEP International Portrait Biennial in the city of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

She has been exhibiting in art festivals in Greece, Europe, USA and Asia since 2001. Mariva is also an art pedagogue.

Links: Website (www.mariva-zacharof.com) | Facebook (www.facebook.com/mariva.zacharof) | Facebook (www.saatchiart.com/Mariva) | LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/marivazacharof)