THE ARTIST · b. 1964, ATHENS
George Petrides
THE SCULPTOR
Born in Athens (1964) and based there and in New York, George Petrides is a contemporary sculptor known for public works and traveling exhibitions. His practice explores the intersection of personal narrative, cultural heritage, and technological innovation.
MASTERY OF PUBLIC SPACE
Petrides has 40 permanent public works across seven sectors and eight countries (15 outdoor and 25 indoor works). His sculptures are placed in prominent corporate, educational, governmental, healthcare, museum, religious, and residential institutions and spaces.
TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS
Hellenic Heads is a ten city, six year traveling exhibition across Europe and the USA. The eighth city is Berlin opening September 2026, followed by New York in February 2027 and the homecoming to Athens in late 2027.
SYNTHESIZING TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY
Petrides blends ancient traditions, inspired by his dual heritage, with twenty-first-century innovation. His methodology — a dialogue between the hand and the machine — begins in traditional clay, transitions through 3D scanning and digital sculpting, and is realized through custom printing processes using sustainable and upcycled materials. Some works are cast in bronze.
INTELLECTUAL FOUNDATIONS
The rigor of Petrides' work is informed by his studies at Harvard College (B.A. Classics, 1985) and Stanford University (M.B.A. and M.A., 1993). The humanities provide the bedrock for his research; his graduate training supports the management that global public art projects demand.
In his first career, Petrides held senior roles in international finance, including positions at Lazard Frères and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he was a Managing Director.
For more than 20 years, alongside his first career, Petrides studied and practiced art part-time. His principal art education was at The New York Studio School (enrolled 2001; degree in sculpture, 2022), with further study at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris and the Art Students League of New York. In 2017 he committed to sculpture full-time.