About the artist

Andreou Maria, born in 1961 in Koilada, Larisa, is a Greek artist who has dedicated her life to the exploration of unconventional materials and techniques in her artwork. Andreou received her education from the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASKT-ASFA), where she studied under the guidance of renowned artists such as George Lazonga, M. Merambeliotis, and N. Tranos. She also pursued studies in Greek Culture in the Hellenic Open University, where she got a scholarship.

In 2011-2012, Andreou was awarded a scholarship from IKY to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. Under the supervision of Professor Zbigniew Bajek and Dr. Wojciech Kopec, she created a series of works that were highly regarded for their unique perspective and were subsequently kept in the school's archive.

Andreou's primary medium is cardboard, which she collects from the streets of various cities. Through the use of the Collage-Decollage technique, she transforms this humble material into intricate shapes, textures, and hues. The element of surprise, chance, and the challenges presented by the material are what draw Andreou to work with cardboard. She believes that paper carries the essence of time, and the yellowing, fading, and smell of the paper serve as a starting point for her exploration into the material's past life and the secrets it holds.

In addition to her work with cardboard, Andreou incorporates readymades, found objects (objet trouvé), small constructions, and what she refers to as "sculptural cardboard" into her art. She also has a passion for photography, which allows her to capture and convey intangible spaces.

Andreou has participated in several notable exhibitions, including the First Graduates Exhibition at Kesalidou Hall of the Athens School of Fine Arts in 2015, the Mature Artists Group Exhibition in Krakow in 2012, the Student Group Exhibition at Bios in Athens in 2012, and the First Rejected Works Exhibition of ASFA students at the "Syn" space in Athens in 2011.

Through her innovative use of materials and her unique artistic vision, Maria Andreou continues to make significant contributions to the contemporary art world, both in Greece and abroad.