Agni Zotis is a multimedia artist who focuses on painting and also incorporates light, video art, sound, performance, and new media into her work. 

Central to her artistic vision is the exploration of individuality within universal consciousness, viewing everything as energy in potentiality.  

She has pioneered the use of light as a metaphor for knowledge, using it to alter perceptions within her paintings. Her work examines the interconnectedness of all things, drawing parallels between molecular structures, natural patterns, and cosmic phenomena, allowing for the relationship of the microcosm to the macrocosm. Her abstract compositions are organized chaos. Zotis captures the essence of time and space as dynamic entities of color and form.   Zotis meticulously handcrafts her paints using pigments, minerals, and precious stones to achieve specific consistencies that absorb, reflect, and refract light. This process allows her paintings to respond to their environment, creating vibrant, energy-filled works that possess their own identity. She uses mastery of tradition and modernizes to fit her vision of existence. 

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​Zotis's artistic journey is deeply intertwined with her personal quest for self-discovery within existence. Born in Australia, grew up in New York City, with Greek roots, she was immersed in an odyssey from a young age. She studied Fine Arts at Hunter College in New York City and apprenticed with a Byzantine iconographer in New York City and a Buddhist monk specializing in Thanka painting in Pokhara, Nepal.  Her global exploration in the 1990's influenced by seeking for the meaning of life,  focused on cultures, religions, art, theology, physics, philosophy, and ancient wisdom including Yoga and meditation, that inform her art and teachings. 

From 2004 to 2009, Zotis served as a director of AGNI GALLERY in the East Village, known for its avant-garde exhibitions that were integral to the New York City art scene, fostering many collaborations including with bass player Christian McBride.  She founded AGNOSIAN Gallery in Chelsea,  from 2020 to 2023, showcased experimental young artists during the pandemic. She is invited for a residency to the Demos center, at the American College in Athens Fall 2024.  

 

​Zotis is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of thinkers. In 2013, she founded MAY Kids Transform, a non-profit organization, and worked with youth and educators since 2001.  MAY curriculums empower through mindfulness, arts, and yoga, fostering emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Based on non doctrine  principles of wellness,  inspires others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, in a process she calls Creative Mindfulness, with focus on Life is Art and itself the ultimate masterpiece. She is certified as a Yoga Instructor 2001, Meditation Teacher 2006, Functional Nutritionist 2021, Wellness and Health Coach 2022.  Zotis is part of the Knowverse AI Team inspiring to democratize education globally 2023-present. She lives and works in Chelsea, NYC.

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​    Education: 

    Hunter College, NYC, 1988-1993

    Art Students League, NYC, 1993-1995

    Apprentice, Byzantine Iconography, Astoria NY, 1993

    Apprentice, Buddhist Mandala, Pokhara Nepal, 1996

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     Selected Solo Exhibitions:

• ILLUME, Aperture Building Chelsea, February 2023

• Step Into the Light, Pop Up, Chelsea June 2018 

• Be Nice, Project 301, Chelsea March 2015

• Occupy, Heliopolis, Greenpoint Brooklyn Oct 2011

• Phoenix Raising, collaboration Grammy winner Christian McBride, Agni Gallery, East Village, June 2009

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    Selected Group Exhibitions:​

• Fireflies, DEMOS CENTER, AMERICAN COLLEGE IN ATHENS, Athens, Greece, September 2024 

• GRis, Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens, Greece, November 2024

• A/TYPICAL NOW, OPENING GALLERY, Tribeca, February 2023 

• THE BRAND NEW NEW YEAR SHOW, Not Another Gallery, David Craig Ellis, Williamsburg Brooklyn,  January 2023

• Light Year "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil" Brooklyn Bridge Dumbo, curator John Ensor Parker, Nov, 2020 

• The Fourth Stage, Abstract Theory and the Silver Lining of Allegorical Necessity, IFAC, LES, NYC, 2018 

• The Rent is Too Damn High, Albear/Zamudio, NYC, Oct 2017

• Super Stars, The Black Sheep, Milano, Italy, March 2017

• Mykonos Biennale, July 2015

• Mykonos Biennale & Vanessa Quang Gallery, Paris, June 2014

• Family Affairs, IFAC, NYC, March 2014

• Separation Anxiety, Wallplay, NYC, March 2014 

• Crisis and Paganism, Mykonos Biennale, Greece, June 2013

• Low Lives, The Vault, SPACES, NYC, June-July 2013

• Feed Your Food, Ingenuity Fest Cleveland, Sept 2012

• Blk Xmas, Michael Lyons Gallery, NYC Oct 2011

• The Beatles Complete On Ukulele, Haunch of Venison, NYC Mar 2011

• Divine Influence, Past and Present, Wilmer Jennings Gallery, NYC  Nov 2010

• The Facebook Show, The Detroit Museum of New Art, Michigan Oct 2010

• Low Lives 2, EL Museo del Barrio, NYC,  Aljira A Center for Contemporary Art, Fusebox, Galeria de la Raza, Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Obsidian Arts, the temporary space, Co-Lab, Terminal (APSU), Studio 304, Artists Television Access (ATA)  Apr 2010

• X Initiative, Dia Chelsea, NYC Feb 2010

• Million $, Pittsburg Cultural Trust Gallery, P.A.  June 2009

• Alchemy, Hudson Guild Gallery, NYC Feb 2009

• LES Arts Festival, Theater For The New City Gallery, NYC  July 2008

• Sacred Ways, Tria Gallery, NYC  June 2007

• Essence of Asia, Asian Cultural Center, NYC Apr 2007

• Confluence, Musee de Monoian/ Society for Cultural Exchange, Pittsburgh PA Oct 2006

• Windows Project, East Hampton Ma Sept 2006

• ArtsAid, Bangalore and Delhi, India April 2006

 

    Grants: 

• Rauschenberg Emergency Grant, 2021

• Artist Relief 2020

• Emergency Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Grant 2007

• Artists Fellowship Grant 2008

• Puffin Foundation 2007

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    Art Fairs:

• Platforms Project, IFAC, Athens, Greece 2022

• Separation Anxiety II, Wallplay, Cutlog, NYC May 2014 

• Flush, Creamhotel, Fountain, Miami Dec 2012, and NYC 2013

• Dual, Pool Art Fair, NYC Mar 2011

• Cultural Revolution, Scope, Miami Dec 2010

• LES Artists Do Miami, Scope, Miami Dec 2007

 

    Director:

• Agnosian, Chelsea NYC 2020-2023

• Agni Gallery, East Village NYC 2004-2009 

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    Selected Curated Exhibitions: ​

• Reflections on Mt. Athos-The Holy Mountain, Dormation of the Virgin Mary, Hamptons Feb-May 2024

• Simplicity is Complex, Agni Gallery 2009 

• Aliens and Zombies, Agni Gallery, NYC Oct 2008

• GODdess, Agni Gallery, NYC June 2008

• Headless Pig, Agni Gallery, NYC, April 2007

• PUNK MONK, Agni Gallery, NYC, Sept 2007

• Dreams and Fairy Tales, Agni Gallery, NYC Oct 2006

• Words and Vibrations, Agni Gallery, NYC June 2006

• Rated R for RANDOM, Agni Gallery, NYC Sept 2005

 

    Documentaries:

• Life Without Compromise by Susan Al-Doghachi premiere 2010 Anthology Film Archives

• Art In the City by Ben Van Bergen 2014 Amazon Prime

 

    Residencies:  

• Cycladic Arts, Paros Greece 2023

• ArtsAid, Storytelling through Art, Bangalore and Delhi India 2006

• Musee de Monoian, Hoonah Alaska 2009

 

    Community Empowerment/ Teaching:

• MAY Kids Transform, 2013-present, Founder and Director of youth and educators wellness curriculums www.maykidstransform.org 

• Community Painting for youth, Agni Gallery 2004-09

• Created Ceramics school for nursery Westside, Co-Op YMCA 2001-2003