Elias Kolivas was born and raised in Montreal, Canada,  

He focused on drawing and painting from his early years in life with such dedication and passion that following art as his path in life was always a given. 

      He was admitted to the Faculty of Fine Arts of Concordia university in Montreal as an exceptional talent where he studied art and painting. Also studied academic drawing and fine arts in Athens, Greece. 

 

“Above schools and universities, to study art is to follow a personal journey constantly observing and drawing, even with the eyes in the absence of paper, studying the great works of those who preceded and constantly being brave in challenging and overcoming fear, for this is the only way to stay determined and maintain dignity” 

        

He travelled a lot around the world and studied works of art and cultures. His work has been shown in several exhibitions and art venues. He has created murals, designed spaces and completed art commissions both in North America and Europe. 

Besides painting, he is a published poet and best-selling author held in high esteem by the literary community. 

 

“Poetry is always a substantial part of my life. Feels like home to me. I know that place well and always felt very comfortable and safe there. Many think of me as a surrealist artist, but I would call myself a poet as an artist. There is poetry in every painting of mine” 

 

        He has created, owned and managed three well-renowned art cafes and event venues (LaFolie Montreal, Zazzium story Athens, Pinnochio Athens) where established artists from every field of the arts gathered and where he held exhibitions of his work and other artists, art events, theatre, music, book presentations, independent film festivals etc. and promoted artists for over twenty years.  

 

“I always liked the idea of art being shown in lively places where people can interact with art in a casual and comfortable way for as long as they like” 

 

He now splits his time between his studio in Montreal and his studio in Athens, completely dedicated to his art. 

 

    “From the beginning of my career in art, I was lucky enough to feel always very welcomed and respected in the art community and formed strong friendships with well-established artists and art lovers from all fields of art. It is their respect for me as an artist that always helped me move forward. I am very thankful for that. 

As for now, I feel I am still that boy, full of curiosity, wanting to understand and willing to do everything for that. So my studies continue… 

          I work with oil paints on linen, usually in large sizes. Following my understanding and studies of the old masters’ techniques, I paint -and think- through layering, which is the only way to achieve real depth and a clear sense of space in a painting, as well as vibrant colours and maximum durability in time. For the last years, I spend most of my time in my studio, completely devoted to painting, exploring digital art and writing. 

         Art, for me, is a quest for the truth through beauty. As in any quest, an artist has to be prepared and equipped as much as motivated and inspired. 

To be inspired is to remain always curious about life. Every why and how is an inspiration. Every strong feeling is an inspiration. Living as much as possible in the present strengthens that inspiration. 

        Skill demands that I remain a student forever. Stop being a student, and I stop being an artist. As Auguste Rodin wrote in his testament. 

        

        “Art is just feeling. However, without the science of volumes, proportions, colours, without skill of the hand, the most lively feeling is paralyzed. What would become of the greatest poet in a foreign country whose language he did not know? “ 

  

        However, I believe that art is not a competition for an artist to show his skills or an obsession with inventing something new, not even a place to expose and express feelings as a personal therapy.  

         I don’t use art to find courage, because courage will never give me the truth. I use art to find the truth and I find courage.   

          Art is for an artist to communicate and share all that he learned from his journey as a truthful storyteller and contribute as he can to the evolution of human culture by exploring and creating beauty.  

It is a language that speaks directly when no other language can. Art is what describes us as human beings and is our greatest joy and defence. 

         Nothing is more capable than art to challenge an established way of thinking, a logic that wants to remain Indisputable for ever. Images translate in a way that our inner self understands without the filter of limited words and symbols, without the filter of a limited logic. 

          A painting is a frozen moment in time, the observation of the present and sometimes a prophesy, because it is the present where the past and future meet. And it is the present that can remind us of who we really are. We are a projection of what we want to be that exists between light and dark”