Chryssafenia Gardiakou

Chryssafenia is a multi-local artist, curator and art historian who spends her time in Illinois, Greece and Ecuador. She works in 2D, 3D, collage, installation and performance,joining artist collectivas with gusto and often collaborating with fashion designers, fiber artists, weavers, musicians and dancers.
Her themes include cross-dressing, alchemy, performativity, shamanism, interstice, the body, disability studies, semiotics,border and Latino studies, as well as sacred stories.
Her current work explores magical symbols, hierophanies, and how pain mitigates or intensifies these experiences. Ultimately, exploring and trying to find what inhabits the cusp.
Another significant area of focus is on how fashion has been used in art to navigate, explore and explosively disrupt the status quo. Personal dramaturgy performed via sartorialism is examined as well.



the role of curator, in the region of Mani in southern Greece,where a floating art exhibit Re:Think, an exhibit tackling consumerism, found art and illegal dumping in the region of Maratholaka.

Northern Illinois University
B.F.A. in Studio Art
B.A. in Art History
M.A in Art History
S.A.I.C (School of the Art Institute of Chicago)
Fashion

-Apprenticed under Christo Rigana, Sculptor

-Workshop with Flo Oy Won (studied multi-media collage)

Scholarships:
-Helen Merritt Scholarship
-Dimitris Liakos Scholarship
-Rosebud Foundation- V&PA Endowment
-Art History Instructor at Northern Illinois --University 2011-2014

June 2019: Aurora Public Art Commission Art exhibit "What is Empathy?" Group show- Opening night: June 7 2019
2019: Featured in "The Making of Eudaimonia" by Micah Chain Thomas
2019: Featured in the Chachalaca Review, "Challenging Reality" Spring 2019-Vol.5
Art Journal of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
November 2017: Will be working on my first Tarot Deck Images. The "Crespo Deck" Arcana imagery will be out in the next few months.
October 2017: "The Little Demons Inside" by Micah Chaim Thomas has been released! Available on Amazon now!
August 2017: I have been invited to create a new piece for author Micah Chaim Thomas' book: "The Little Demons Inside". What an Honor! More information coming soon!
May 2016: One of my pieces has become a part of the Scitech Museum's Collection! Thrilled!

-JULY 2019 Women to the Front- Group show curated by esteemed collage artist and activist Bryan Daniel Joseph
-JUNE 2019 What Is Empathy? Aurora Public Art Commission, curated by Jen Evans
-APRIL 2019 Group Art Show

-MAY 2017
ARTBAR The Delirium Show
-April 2017
ARTBAR The Body Show
-February 2017
ARTBAR The Desire show
-January 2017
ARTBAR The Fable Show
-June 2016
ARTBAR Sin Titulo
-May 2016
ARTBAR The Urban Show
-MAY 2016
SciTech Museum/ on Occasion of the 125th Anniversary of Aurora IL Postal Office
-April 2016
ARTBAR The Dream Show
-March 2016
ARTBAR The Cat Show
-February 2016
ARTBAR- The Red Show


-March 2013-
Exhibiting work at Mausoleum Gallery

-February 2013-
Group exhibit- "Where's Your Heart?" (curated by Nikki Rice)
Anti-Violence Valentine

-Fall 2012-
"Monsters" Curated by Ramon Soto

-Summer 2011-
Aurora Art Walk (Featured artist)

-Spring 2011-
Group show at Mausoleum Gallery in Aurora Il.

-Fall 2010-
SOLO SHOW: "SARTORIAL MACGYVERISM: Inception, Dramaturgy and Endymatological Apotheosis" at Bad Dog Gallery, DeKalb

-September 2010-
ALLEY ART FESTIVAL-exhibited with FUGLY DUCKLING-

-July 2010-December 2009-
"RE:THINK" (Touring show in the Peloponnese)
(Co-Curator with Ms. Mirto Fifa)
Kardamili Exhibit in Cultural center as well as the Kalamata Cultural Center

-March 2010-
NAEA Juried Art Show
Glass Gallery

-2009-
"ARS NOVA"
group show

-April 2009-
"SEXY"
Group show at Pleasant Street Gallery (curated by Karen Brown)

-Summer 2008-
Art Consultant for M.E.T. Theatre-
Kalamata, Greece- "Mid Summer Night's Dream"

-November 2008-
KINDLING group show(curated by Natalie Shugailo)

-JULY 2006-
THE ARTS RENAISSANCE TOUR
River Breeze Gallery Aurora IL.

-2006-
Art featured in Loukeelium's album "What have we Done?"

-2003-2004-
Creative Director of make-up and body collaborating with Fashion Designer Lori "Devil Bunny" Thomason for her fashion line.

-2004 SUMMER-
SISTER CRAFT TOUR
Collaboration with Jane Anderson: Ritual garments

-Jan. 2003 and Jan.2004
WINDY CON ART EXHIBIT AND AUCTION

-2004 SUMMER-
Curated group exhibit "EYE CANDY"

-2003 SUMMER-
Curated group show "ART VIRUS" exhibiting work by the Aurora Underground group

-2002-
Poster Design for band "Reverend Fly Daddy and the Sinners"

-2001-
Group show at Quimby's in Chicago Il.

-2000- Album Cover Art for band
"Hedonists, Maybe"

-2000-2001
Art director of Body collaborating with fashion designer Pamela Walt's line "Rain ware"