"His tender heart" Painting

NIKOLAOS (NIKOS) SMYRNIOS was born in Edessa, Greece, to parents of Asia Minor descent.
In his early 20s he immigrated to Stockholm, Sweden, where he studied in the Institute of Graphic Arts and the National College of Art & Design, a school which is considered as the heart of Scandinavian Design.
Working in relevant professional and academic environments in both Sweden and Greece, he gained valuable experience and exceptional skills which have been reflected in his long lasting creative activity.
The collection presented in the Saatchi online constitutes a small portion of Smyrnios' work and represents only few of the media he explored (painting, video, animation, graphic art) and the ideas he expressed through varied styles.
Being actively engaged in the education of applied arts, as well as in graphic design, Smyrnios has managed to establish his artistic identity as a “child of his time”, interacting continuously with the modern spirit and New Media, adapting and discarding the elements of the Zeitgeist.
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STATEMENT OF THE ARTIST
• Rooted in a modernist education (at the Swedish National College of Art and Design) and enriched by a Greek heritage, my work is an ongoing exploration of visual possibilities. Over the course of three decades as a graphic designer and illustrator, I developed a deep understanding of composition, precision, and the playful tension between form and meaning. Now, as a full-time painter, I embrace stylistic pluralism—integrating influences from Surrealism, Pop Art, Op Art, and digital media. For me, painting is a synthesis of distinct realities, an open space where different visual forces collide and spark new ideas.
• I do not tether myself to a single style. Instead, I draw from a wide range of creative perspectives, believing that art thrives in the freedom of experimentation. Each piece is an invitation to explore fresh visual languages and challenge conventional boundaries, reflecting my belief that innovation is not only a goal but a necessity. Through this restless pursuit of new forms and techniques, my work remains connected to tradition while embracing the endless possibilities of the present.