The artist's works stand out for their aquatic themes, with swimmers, seascapes and the famous waterfalls of Samothrace

Born in 1964 in Athens, Greece, Filopoulou moved to Paris in 1984 to study at the Fine Arts School and had her first solo show in 1990. Since then, her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions and auctions, popular for the 4-meter-long compositions of underwater swimmers. Her art reflects the unique components of water and light that characterizes the Greek landscape and transforms the summer into gestures that convey freedom.

Filopoulou's art reflects the unique components of water and light that characterizes the Greek landscape and transforms the summer into gestures that convey freedom

In an interview with Yatzer, the artist states “The water is a relief for me. I enter the sea and I forget everything”. Such is the importance of water for Filoupoulou that she says being obsessed with the sea. It is said that the sea has therapeutic properties, and it is not uncommon to feel mentally and physically cleansed after venturing into the sea waters. Filopoulou intends to convey this through her paintings, which are so bright and vivid that makes you feel you are part of the water- themed painting.

“The water is a relief for me. I enter the sea and I forget everything” –Maria Filopoulou

Such is the importance of water for Filopoulou that she says being obsessed with the sea

“The ancients used to bathe in the sea before performing their rituals, perhaps for the same reason that I feel relieved and cleansed when I swim. I just wanted to convey that personal feeling to the viewer” –Filopoulou

“The ancients used to bathe in the sea before performing their rituals, perhaps for the same reason that I feel relieved and cleansed when I swim. I just wanted to convey that personal feeling to the viewer” –Filopoulou

With a palette composed of a wide variety of blue and green tones, these paintings almost let you breathe in the sea breeze. Even those who are not on vacation can pause for a moment to appreciate the freshness of Filopoulou's water-themed paintings and dream for a while of the pleasure of being on a Greek beach.

With a palette composed of a wide variety of blue and green tones, these paintings almost let you breathe in the sea breeze.