Christina Katrakis

Christina Katrakis-Kushch

Portrait of Christina Katrakis-Kushch

Christina Katrakis-Kushch
Born Christina Anatoliyevna Kushch
(1980-12-16)December 16, 1980
Kiev, Ukraine
Nationality USA
Known for painting, curatorship, philanthropy
Website katrakis.com

Christina Katrakis (December 16, 1980) is an American curator, writer, sculptor, painter, narrator of Ukrainian origin, and founder of International Academy of Arts in 2005[1] which is now based in Munich, Germany.

Early life and education

Katrakis was born in 1980, December 16, in Kiev, in a family of Anatoliy Kushch-Katrakis and Helen Pilkevich-Kushch. Her father is Ukrainian sculptor, author of many historical monuments in Ukraine, United States, Iran, Lebanon and Poland,[2] residing in Kiev, Ukraine. Her mother is Ukrainian ethnographer and an art historian.[3] She officially took the double second name Katrakis-Kushch because of self-perception of Greek legacy of her ancestors, who were Ellinian Greeks, migrated long ago to Ukraine, according to her father.[3]

Katrakis founded the International Academy of Arts in 2005[1] which is now based in Munich, Germany.

In age of 12, Katrakis went to the USA with her parents, when her father received an order for a monument creation in Chicago. Her parents have returned to their homeland, but Christina stayed and went to English International institute for foreign languages in Washington (1992–1993). In 1993–1994 she studied at Catholic school of St. Nicholas in Chicago and in parallel – in a specialized school "Glenn Eco". In 1994–1998 she returned in Kiev, where she studied at the Schevchenko's Art school. In 1996–1998 she studied at courses of Arts, Art History and Anatomy in Italy and France (Lorenco di Medici' Academy in Florence and Sorbonne Academy in Paris). In 1998–2000 she studied at the National Academy of fine Arts and Architecture in Kiev. In 2000–2002 she studied at the Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, USA. She also studied at the renowned National Academy of Art of Ukraine, as well as in various art schools in Europe and in the USA. She passed a terminal MA degree from the University of Memphis, where she teaches drawing, figure structure, watercolor and oil painting.[4] She spent several years at the University of Memphis as a teacher and lecturer, and building a national reputation as an artist: her works are owned by Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Angelina Jolie, among others.[5]

Life and work

Katrakis had a son, who died when he was only 8 days old, from a heart disease, caused by a Chornobyl disaster[6] and another baby, who was unborn, for the same reason.[5] In one month after, she drew-up a cycle of paintings named "Zone", inspired by this horrible events.

Katrakis also known not only as a painter, but also as potter, sculpturer, writer and documentary maker.[7] It started in 2002, when she had presented several projects during her study at the ASU.[7] In 2011 Katrakis photo series "Tree of Life" appeared in "The picture of the World. Free look" exhibition hosted in Kiev, Ukraine.[8] In 2011 was a productive for Katrakis – she took part in 6 exhibitions around the world, including opening of own exhibition in Kiev, Ukraine.[4][6][8][9][10][11]

Katrakis made a film "UltraViolet Light" presented in 2014 at the RAR Gallery.[12] In 2014, Katrakis was at the Maidan of Independence in the heart of capital of Ukraine, during disturbances in Kiev in the Second Maidan revolution, approved by a photo.[13]

Curatorship

  • 2013 TEDx International forum, Vatican, Italy.
  • 2013 Training on the topic "How to become a successful painter", Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Europe.[14]
  • 2014 RAR Gallery, Berlin.[15]

Participation in exhibitions as a painter

  • 2002 Exhibit after Minoan culture, as a senior graduate, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA[7]
  • 2004 "Moments of life", "Elisavetgrad" exhibition, Kirovograd, Ukraine.[16]
  • 2008 Personal exhibition in Kiev, Ukraine, Europe.[17]
  • 2010 "Neo-Symbolism: Bridges to the Unknown”, Chicago, IL, USA.[18]
  • 2010 “Prism Art Exhibition”, Memphis, USA.[19][20]
  • 2011 “The Little Prince”, The Chocolate cake Museum, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe.[9]
  • 2011 “The picture of the World. Free look”, The Chocolate cake Museum, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe][8]
  • 2011 "The Zone", New York, USA.[6]
  • 2011 "11th European festival of the Nude Photography: Glances at the body”, Europe.[4]
  • 2011 Personal exhibition in Kiev, Ukraine, Europe.[10]
  • 2011 “Arising” exhibition, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe.[11]
  • 2013 “Art World”, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Europe.[21]
  • 2013 “Moments of Time”, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, Europe.[14]
  • 2014 “Ultra Violet Light”, with Igor Kalinauskas.[22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 "About the Founder". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Anatoliy Kushch". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Sculpture is a hard work". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Learn more about the artist". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Ukraine Nightmare". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "I've painted "Zone" after my son's death". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Kushch to present multi-dimensional senior art exhibit, featuring Minoan culture". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "The picture of the world. Free look". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Brad Pitt's favorable person had brought an Exhibit to Kiev". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Hollywood artist Christina Katrakis Opens Her Art Gallery in Kiev". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Opening of 'Growing up' exhibition". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "The last film of the muse, lover and colleague of many of geniuses was filmed by Ukrainian team". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ukrainian Artists of the 21st Century – Christina Katrakis". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  14. 1 2 "'Moments of time' Exhibition". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Recent Publications". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Moments of life". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Ukrainian from Hollywood brought her paintings in Kiev". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Neo-symbolism: Bridges to the Unknown at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  19. ↑ "January midsouthmusts" (PDF). Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Painful 'Prism' – Touched by Tragedy of Chernobyl, artist's work radiates power". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  21. ↑ "American, who was a prototype for a Liberty Monument in Kiev: I have to carry it bravely". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Igor Kalinauskas – BBC". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ultra Violet light project – Dali, Picasso, Warhol and I". Retrieved March 25, 2015.
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