BLOG 118 4/01/2025 A Literary World: An Interview with Greek Australian Artist, Efrossini Chaniotis
A Literary World
An Interview with Greek Australian Artist, Efrossini Chaniotis
As readers of my blog know, apart from writing about literary works, I also write about art and history. Today’s guest belongs to the latter group. She is an artist who is well-known in Australia for her dramatic and thought-provoking work. Efrossini Chaniotis is someone who “lives the dream” with her work; something that many of us yearn to do and yet never act on. I first met her a few years ago at a Greek function and was immediately drawn to her work for many reasons, much of which she will tell us about in this interview, but it was the boldness, colour, and attention to detail that first drew me in. Her work is strong, powerful, and controlled. I felt it combined elements of Byzantine art, modern Greek artists, and such greats as Picasso, who with a few simple brushstrokes, could convey so much. A few weeks ago, I met up with her in her studio and was in awe of how prolific she is (and tidy!). I think I liked everything. She certainly made me want to get my paints out again. So with more ado, please join me in welcoming Efrossini to A Literary World and find out more about this wonderful artist.
Welcome, Efrossini, please tell us about your background.
I was born in Adelaide. My parents were Greek migrants from the islands: my mum was from Corfu and my dad originally from Mykonos. At the age of three, we returned to live in Corfu but later returned back to Australia. I studied Sculpture at the South School of Art and when I graduated went to Greece for a summer holiday and ended up living there for 8 years and studying painting at the Athens School of Fine Art. They were very formative years both personally and professionally and spanned most of my 20’s. I returned to Australia with 2 fine art degrees under my belt. 9/11 happened and I was struck with a feeling that I wanted to make a positive contribution in the world i guess it had awakened a need for purpose beyond feeding my love for being immersed in studying and developing my artistic skills. Eventually, I moved back to Australia did a Masters of Art Therapy in Melbourne worked professionally in the field for 5 years concurrently exhibiting and maintaining a studio practice, After a 2-week trip to India, my first holiday in years I returned with the realization that my art practice was my deeper priority and over the course of a few months resigned from my Art Therapy positions to pursue full heartedly my other passion. I had a hunch that by fully expressing my imagination my spirit of service could also be fulfilled. I now have a flourishing professional career working from my Little Mykonos Studio in Melbourne where I create art for mainly solo exhibitions and commissions that convey magic and wonder to connect people to their inner child and that is infused with integrity, beauty, and artistry.

EARTH ICON #1 (detail)

ENA MATI/ One Eye
Describe your artwork.
I am fascinated by the meeting place between forms, hence my attraction to creating paintings inspired or responding to sculptures and visa versa, performances that hint at but are not theater, sculptures that resemble puppets without being so, and storytelling within painting that is not illustration. I also paint on my mix media sculptures and hang them on the wall like paintings or friezes.
I create art that tells a story, with each piece acting like a page in a book. This approach allows me to weave narratives through my artwork. I see many of my art pieces, across mediums, as connected, weaving and composing stories with never-ending possibilities.
My style is a combination of Byzantine iconography and expressive brushwork influenced by modern art. It often looks to be referencing tribal and folk art from diverse cultures which I often times think is due to my incorporation of patterns and archetypal/universal themes. The tone of my art is narrative, poetic, symbolic, figurative and surreal in nature.

The TRIPTYCH sculptures entitled THE MERMAID GARDENER

Angel Dreaming

Ideas Board

Contemporary Cycladic sculptures
What and who inspires you?
I’m inspired by spirituality, psychology, themes that occur in my own life, travel, modern art, mythology, Frida Kahlo, Matisse, Bonnard, Picasso, Expressionism, Chagall. Byzantine iconography, Ancient Greek art, Greek modern art. Theofilos, Tsarouhi, Fassianos and indigenous art from around the world. Greece provided me with a sound painting education and an appreciation for the development of art in Greece from antiquity t0 the modern era.
How do you use storytelling in your work?
I’ve always loved storytelling my earliest memory of the wonder of storytelling was as a 3-year-old child on the island of Corfu been babysat by a woman who told stories to children under a gigantic tree in the park. The feeling of being transported and given the key to magical worlds of adventure, color and joy planted seeds within me. So when I chose the visual arts as my profession while I experimented with a wide variety of media, styles and intentions, I was naturally drawn to the expressive, symbolic and narrative aspect of art. I see storytelling in art as stimulating meaning making and also imbuing the art object with living attributes supporting transformation, healing and wisdom, a powerful form of communication.

The Dressmaker. Finished painting

Detail of The Dressmaker in progress

Inspiration for The Dressmaker.
During a trip to Brazil in 2014-15 I painted two canvases for a hotel. One canvas seemed to start a story, and the other concluded. When I returned to Australia, I spent a year generating art, one at a time, like pages of a book exploring the themes of those 2 paintings. I then compiled the story the images and sculptures told titling it THE FISHERMAN AND MERMAID’S TALE and performed it on opening night in a gallery full of the art. in the following days I continued to perform the story for gallery visitors, this time walking around the gallery gesturing t0 the artworks almost like a tour guide. Each artwork description on the wall also told the story allowing me to emphasize the merging of storytelling in the contemporary art space.
Since then, I have paid greater respect to the intelligence within the artworks themselves and continue to ask questions, be curious, and follow the unexpected. I place myself as much as I can in the viewer’s role rather than the epicenter, where ownership and ego can block my ability to listen to and learn from what is created.
Does music play a part in your creative process?
I listen to a variety of genres ranging from world, soul and rhythmic, percussive music and always there are occasions where I need to work in silence. Recently I’ve loved Beautiful Chorus, enchanting, harmonic modern vocals. I am drawn to empowering emotive and positive leaning songs. I also listen to podcasts about science and spirituality like the Huberman Lab and Know Thyself.
What’s next for you?


Transition from Dancing Sunset

Pieces of the Moon



Modern icon gift for the Bouboulina family





Latest Publication

A Colouring Book for Adults Embark on a captivating journey through the ages as we invite you to explore the rich tapestry of Greece’s vibrant history and culture through the art of colouring. “Colours of Aegean Dreams” is more than just a colouring book; it celebrates Greece’s enduring legacy, from ancient myths and legendary gods to the breathtaking landscapes that have inspired artists for centuries.
