Nicholas Smyrnios (surname indicating a Smyrna origin), was born in Edessa, Greece and grew up in the historic city of Thessaloniki, surrounded by Greek, Roman and Byzantine antiquities. From such a classical environment, he found himself in a totally different place in his early twenties, when he emigrated to Stockholm and started his studies at the National University College of Art and Design, considered the ultimate incubator of Scandinavian modernism.
These different environments and the cultures they represent left a strong imprint on Smyrnios's artistic profile, who dedicated the first years of his artistic career to finding paths and bridges between them, in order to define his own identity. The body of the work he has produced since then is characterized both by his passion for the vast Greek cultural heritage, as well as by his devotion for the latest modernist movements and trends.
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.
Engaged as a graphic designer as well as a teacher in applied arts education for more than 30 years, Smyrnios 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.
