Agni Zotis is an internationally acclaimed multimedia artist working in painting, light, video, sound, and performance art in an exploration of individuality in consciousness. For Agni, art is the landscape of the soul, a process of Know Thyself. A pure universal language where the metaphysical becomes physical, darkness reveals light, the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, silence vibrates, revealing the essence of the wholeness in existence. 

Her luminous paintings are living entities, light-reactive works that transform under shifting conditions, embodying the dialogue between perception and consciousness. Renowned for the use of light as a metaphor for knowledge, Agni invites the viewer into a participatory experience of awareness itself. She handcrafts her pigments from minerals, stones, metals and precious materials, merging alchemy and aesthetics to create radiant surfaces with energy, movement and presence.

Born in Australia, raised in New York City, and of Greek heritage, Agni’s creative life has been shaped by both the intensity of New York’s art scene and her global journeys. She studied Fine Arts at Hunter College and apprenticed with an Orthodox monk Byzantine iconographer in New York and a Buddhist monk Thankga artist in Nepal, deepening her understanding of art as a mystical practice. She incorporates a unique synthesis of ancient wisdom, theology, physics, philosophy, and meditation, bridging the sacred and the scientific, the mystical and the modern.

From 2004 to 2009, she directed AGNI Gallery in New York’s East Village, an influential space for avant-garde experimentation. Later, she founded AGNOSIAN Gallery in Chelsea 2020 to 2023, providing an experimental platform for emerging artists during the pandemic and reinforcing her commitment to community, creativity, and evolution.

Founder of MAY Kids Transform, a nonprofit foundation since 2013, integrating mindfulness, arts, and yoga into trauma-informed wellness education, Agni teaches her philosophy, Creative Mindfulness, life itself is the ultimate masterpiece, an evolving expression of being. The curriculums are in global educational institutions. She is an advocate of education for all youth. 

Based in Chelsea, New York City, her studio remains both sanctuary and laboratory, where light, matter, and spirit converge, and where art becomes a mirror of the self and the universe. A certified Yoga Instructor, Meditation Teacher, Functional Nutritionist, Health and Wellness Coach, Trauma Therapist, Agni explores the intersection of art, consciousness, and transformation. 

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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, Agnosian Gallery, 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