Born in Athens in 1948, Mortarakos Kyriakos studied painting, fresco, and stage design at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1970-1976), under renowned artists like Yannis Moralis, Konstantinos Xinopoulos, and Vassilis Vassiliadis. His artistic journey began with solo exhibitions in 1978 at Saint Mark's Basilica, Heraklion, Crete, and in 1979 at the Ora gallery in Athens.
Initially, Mortarakos' paintings displayed expressionist tendencies with hints of abstraction. Over time, his artistic exploration expanded into three-dimensional experiments and the use of diverse materials and mixed media. Since the 1990s, his mature work has included wall works, constructions with embedded objects, and spatial installations, often extending the expressive potential of his painting by incorporating elements like wood, plaster, iron plates, and lighting applications.
Mortarakos' subjects often incorporate allusions to experienced spaces, personal memories, classical myths, and symbols, emphasizing their conceptual dimensions. Notably, he frequently incorporates handwritten texts or dates into his works, adding layers of narrative, historical, or calendar content, enriching the viewer's experience.
From 2005 to 2015, Mortarakos served as a full professor at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, heading Painting Studio B. He has organized numerous solo exhibitions in Athens and other Greek cities, as well as in the USA, and has participated in various group exhibitions and international events worldwide.
Initially, Mortarakos' paintings displayed expressionist tendencies with hints of abstraction. Over time, his artistic exploration expanded into three-dimensional experiments and the use of diverse materials and mixed media. Since the 1990s, his mature work has included wall works, constructions with embedded objects, and spatial installations, often extending the expressive potential of his painting by incorporating elements like wood, plaster, iron plates, and lighting applications.
Mortarakos' subjects often incorporate allusions to experienced spaces, personal memories, classical myths, and symbols, emphasizing their conceptual dimensions. Notably, he frequently incorporates handwritten texts or dates into his works, adding layers of narrative, historical, or calendar content, enriching the viewer's experience.
From 2005 to 2015, Mortarakos served as a full professor at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, heading Painting Studio B. He has organized numerous solo exhibitions in Athens and other Greek cities, as well as in the USA, and has participated in various group exhibitions and international events worldwide.
