MARIA ELEFTHERIOU

Maria Eleftheriou’s art is steeped in the alchemy of memory and matter. Like incantations, her creations summon myth and lore, reinterpreting the ancient from her own life and perspectives, exploring empowering themes and adapting them to contemporary issues, giving the old new relevance and depth. Gods and heroes, legendary beings and deities, ancient civilizations, sacred geometry, archetypes and motifs of power, purity, rebirth, bring a symbolic emotional and intellectual weight of profoundness and meaning in her jewelry.

“I draw inspiration from Life as an art form, the words that clash within, fantasy words and mythical creatures, ancient Greece and the Scandinavian north”.

Maria Eleftheriou grew up among precious metals and stones. She entered the world of jewelry at 18, working beside her father, Kostas Eleftheriou, a world-known Athenian creator, celebrated for his exquisite craftsmanship since 1971. While apprenticing in his workshop, she studied at the Mokume School of Athens, an institution dedicated to the art of handmade jewelry and freehand design.

Her fascination with Japanese swords and knives -a reflection of discipline and precision- while she excelled in martial arts, is often nuanced in her art. Her unique designs are first imprinted on paper, then take shape through wax, precious ores, and flame, in collaboration with skilled craftsmen who share her devotion to the craft.

She follows a strong hereditary tradition, in an artistic voice distinctly her own: Her pieces are commanding, sculptural, fluid, intricate in craftsmanship yet minimal in gesture, balancing symbolism with striking simplicity, embodying a mastery of technique but also her inner truth and essence as a creator.

“My challenge is to merge my life, my words and sentiments, the seen and the unseen, into a unique piece of jewelry”.