Master of Fine Arts and Visionary Creator!
GEORGE GAVRIEL
"In the creative process in the Visual Arts, and not only, the sketch or sketches that are made, before the final work, are the cornerstone of a work. Recording, what an artist imagines, his ideas, thoughts, and reflections through the drafts are the initial stage of conceiving a work. That is why they often include in them a dynamic greater than the final work."
George Gavriel was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. He studied at the renowned Surikov Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow, where he held his first solo exhibition in 1984, organized in the halls of the Academy. He graduated in 1987 with a Master of Fine Arts degree.
From 1990 to 2008, he worked as an art teacher in Secondary Education. He then served as an Art Inspector in Middle Education from 2008 to 2017, and since 2017, he has held the position of Principal in Secondary Education schools.
Parallel to his educational career, George Gavriel has maintained an active presence in the local and international art scene, with frequent solo and group exhibitions. He has represented Cyprus in four editions of the Beijing International Art Biennale (2010, 2012, 2017, 2019), with the National Art Museum of China acquiring his artwork from the 7th Beijing Biennale.
In 2013, he received the State Illustration Award of Cyprus. His illustrations have been featured in the textbooks Modern Greeks for grades 1, 2, and 3 of the Gymnasium.
He also took part in the 1st Larnaca Biennale in 2018, marking another significant appearance in the Cypriot contemporary art landscape.
Selected Exhibitions
- ΠΡΟ-ΣΧΕΔΙΑ (PRO-SHEDIA), October 9–25, 2020
An introspective exhibition where George Gavriel opened his sketchbooks to the public, presenting his blueprints, thoughts, and creative process. It offered a rare glimpse into how his concepts evolve into artworks.
- Untitled Exhibition, October 11–26, 2024
In this recent exhibition, George Gavriel conveyed his deep connection to Cyprus, drawing upon personal experiences and offering thoughtful commentary on current events both locally and globally through his unique artistic lens.