Katrina Ginis is a Melbourne-based artist, who intertwines a passion for visual artistry with the complexities of human psychology.
Painting, drawing and the visual arts in their many and varied manifestations have been a source of fascination and an integral part of Katrina’s identity. Primarily focused on figurative and representational forms, Katrina’s artistic repertoire includes painting, drawing, and various other visual mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil, and pastel.
Katrina regards her creative practice as a means of self-expression which enables her to engage with and explore the beauty and complexity of existence. Drawing inspiration from her rich cultural heritage and her scholarly pursuits in Psychology, Katrina finds great inspiration in Greek art, iconography, history, philosophy, literature, and mythology. For example, her work ‘In Memory’ (pictured), pays homage to the strength and creativity of her paternal female ancestors and also commemorates the Asia Minor catastrophe.
Katrina has successfully intertwined her academic journey with her creative pursuits, which is evident in her doctoral research. She has recently been awarded her Masters and PhD in Clinical Psychology. Her PhD thesis explored creative identity development amongst eminent Australian female visual artists, with a particular emphasis on the complex interrelationships between artistic creativity and physical and mental health. Her creative practice is increasingly informed by her clinical work. For example, Katrina’s latest painting, ‘Duality’ (pictured) serves as a testament to the resilience she has witnessed in her clinical practice, particularly among patients grappling with acute traumatic injuries. Through her art, she confronts the existential realities of life and death, offering a glimpse into the human spirit’s capacity for hope and resilience amidst adversity.
Katrina currently practices as a psychologist and has presented at visual art related conferences at Melbourne’s Monash University and at The University of Melbourne’s ‘Women, Art and Feminism in Australia since 1970 Symposium’.
She has completed private commissions for original works, portraits and freelance illustrative projects and has exhibited works at various galleries including The Manning Regional Gallery, Gallery Voltaire, The Black Cat Gallery, the Linden Gallery and the Aarwun Gallery.
Katrina was shortlisted for ‘Top Arts’ and attained a perfect score of 50 with a Premier’s Award, for her secondary school studies in Art. She was a finalist in the 2015 Manning Art Prize for ‘Joy’, finalist in the 2020 National Capital Art Prize for ‘Celebration?, Homogenization?, Appropriation?’ and awarded the Tolarno Hotel’s annual acquisitive prize in 2015 for ‘Becoming.’
Through her art, crossing the realms of art and psychology, Katrina invites us to explore the human condition, where boundaries of emotion, identity, and expression blur into meaning, and provides us with a compelling narrative of connection between creativity, cultural heritage, and mental well-being.
You can find Katrina via her website: http://www.katrinaginis.com/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrina_ginis/, or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.ginis
Katrina Ginis is amongst many Greek Australian artists who have participated in the GAAD (Greek Australian Artist Directory). An initiative by the Greek Australian Cultural League (GACL), the GAAD celebrates Greek Australian visual and performing artists by showcasing their works and contributions to the Australian arts landscape. By preserving and promoting the artistic legacy of Greek Australian artists, the directory ensures that their talents are duly acknowledged and cherished, cementing their place in Australia’s artistic narrative.
Interested artists can register their profiles by visiting www.gacl.com.au and clicking on the dedicated GAAD section. For any inquiries related to the GAAD, individuals can either email GACL President Cathy Alexopoulos infogaclm@gmail.com or contact GAAD Co-ordinator Vasy Petros on 0412 242557
*This is a Greek Australian Cultural League Initiative supported by The Greek Herald.
