Georgia Fine Arts Academy

promoting the arts and humanities in Georgia since 1980

Current Exhibit

The art of Andrew Giannakakis

through February 2012 at the Art Spot Gallery at the Peachtree Branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Library

Andrew Giannakakis was born in Valdosta, Georgia in 1988. He is currently attending the University of Georgia, Lamar Dodd School of Art and is due to graduate in the spring. Andrew has been drawing since early childhood, recording everyday life as well as imaginary subjects. Andrew grew up in Rome, Georgia where he attended the Darlington School for high school. There he excelled in English, history, art, music and athletics. His experiences there find their way into some of his early academic art work, mainly dealing with the violence and culture associated with football in the south.

Describing his art, Andrew says, "As a painter I identify with the American abstract expressionist, from both the west and east coast. Diebenkorn, DeKooning, Guston, Gorky, are the artist who helped me begin to see and work with images. By images I mean the creation of complete, worked images. Most of the images are figurative, although some are not. I don't think I can honestly venture into pure abstraction yet as an artist. While working on a painting, an image always seems to come up that needs to be addressed. This mode of working is very natural to me. Finding a balance between what is automatic, and what comes from intense deliberation and thought is a constant struggle for me.

"No artist knows the true origin of their work, so how could an artist of any merit or intelligence make truthful statements about his work. David Hickey said that 'for good art to survive it must change its meaning.' This idea is very powerful. Art must adapt to survive, and artists must as well. I would like to have this ability in my work-not just by keeping it as ambiguous as possible, but by leaving it malleable and flexible to the viewer. Speed is the way of modern life. I admire the work of Philip Guston, as his ability to adapt and change over time. I work quickly because of this speed anxiety. When confronted with the canon of art history, it's hard to see where one could fit in as a painter. I have come to believe all artwork is autobiographical."

For more informaion contact Andy Giannakakis at giannakakis08@gmail.com