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Marina KarellaGreek artist, sculptor, watercolorist, illustrator and designer
Date of Birth: 17.07.1940
Country:  Greece |
Content:
- Marina Karella: A Multifaceted Artist from Greece
- Early Life and Education
- Artistic Career
- Transition to Sculpture
- International Success and Influence
- Collaboration and Set Design
- Marriage to Royalty
- Two Daughters and Their Marriages
Marina Karella: A Multifaceted Artist from Greece
Marina Karella, a Greek artist born into aristocracy, has left an indelible mark on the worlds of fine art and design. Her diverse skills encompass painting, sculpture, watercolors, illustration, and set design.
Early Life and Education
Marina Karella emerged from an affluent family in Athens, the daughter of Theodore Karellas and Ellie Chalikiopoulos. She pursued her passion for art at the Athens School of Fine Arts (1960-1963) before continuing her studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1963-1965). Under the tutelage of eminent artists like Yannis Tsarouchis and Oskar Kokoschka, Karella honed her artistic vision.
Artistic Career
Her inaugural exhibition at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Italy (1966) launched Marina Karella's career as an artist. She gained recognition in 1971 with a showcase at Milan's Galleria Levi. The Iolas Gallery in New York became a prominent platform for her work in 1970.
Inspired by her fascination with ancient Greece, Karella's works explore themes of mystery and human experience. Her paintings and sculptures often feature shadowy, ambiguous figures reminiscent of ancient Greek art.
Transition to Sculpture
In the 1980s, Marina Karella's artistic practice evolved towards sculpture, utilizing materials such as plaster, marble, and metal. Her sculptures retained the emotional depth and enigmatic quality of her paintings.
International Success and Influence
Over the years, Marina Karella's art has been exhibited globally in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Madrid, Brussels, Rome, and London. Prestigious museums, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Vorres Museum in Athens, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, hold her works in their permanent collections.
Collaboration and Set Design
Beyond painting and sculpture, Marina Karella has collaborated on stage designs and costumes for theater and cinema. Notable projects include her work with sculptor Takis on the Epidavros production of Electra (1984) and the film Un Reve.
Marriage to Royalty
Marina Karella's union with Prince Michael of Greece in a morganatic marriage granted her the title "Marina, Spouse of His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark." They reside between France, the United States, and their home on the Greek island of Patmos.
Two Daughters and Their Marriages
The couple has two daughters:- Princess Alexandra of Greece (born 1968), married to Nicolas Mirzayantz, with two sons
- Princess Olga of Greece (born 1971), married to her second cousin Prince Aimone of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Aosta, with three children
