Vicky Tsalamata, an Athens-based artist and Professor Emeritus of Printmaking at the Athens School of Fine Arts, creates work that cuts deep into the human condition. Her practice weaves together traditional intaglio and digital techniques, using mixed media on archival cotton paper to explore layered themes. With her series La Comédie Humaine, Tsalamata channels the satirical spirit of Balzac, delivering sharp, ironic reflections on societal structures and personal isolation. Her work doesn’t shy away from confronting ecological, social, and existential crises—it embraces them as fuel. Tsalamata’s creative process is rooted in experimentation, with projects ranging from large-scale prints to video print installations. In recent years, her installations, including Awareness, featured at the Cracow International Print Triennial, have broadened her visual language even further. For Tsalamata, each challenge is a chance to go deeper—into the world, into the work, and into herself.
Here is the artist’s interview.
- What is your creative process like?
I believe that we are living an explosion of printmaking as a very prolific and lush visual
language. I am experimenting on new narratives and new forms of expression through
innovative procedures of the expanded printmaking, combining intaglio and digital
Technology. I am working on thematic projects, such as a Series of prints on big dimensions,
on print installations, and recently with video print installations, like “Awareness”, the
project I presented in the Cracow International Print Triennial. - Do any personal experiences shape your work?
My experiences were always the trailhead for my work. My work is a commentary of the
social, ecological and environmental crisis I experience daily. I mention the Series “La
Comédie Humaine” is my sarcastic commentary on the human condition, past and present,
as we come to realize how little we are worth in the grand scheme of things, which
subjugates us to its will, and how truly alone we live inside this fluid social reality. - What challenges do you face as an artist?
On many occasions, challenges function as a motive for the commencement of a new artistic
project, for further research. A new challenge is a new showdown with myself, a further
awareness which may lead to a deeper, more profound knowledge of myself and my
capabilities. Presenting my work at major international exhibitions is also a challenge. - What do you want people to feel when they see your art?
I would like them to experience my art and for it to soothe their souls. I would my work to
give birth to thoughts and associations. This way I will have the pleasure of communicating
with my audience.
Vicky Tsalamata’s art is as much an introspective journey as it is a commentary on our shared realities. Through expanded printmaking, she opens a dialogue that is both intimate and universal, allowing viewers to feel, reflect, and engage. Her work aims not to provide answers, but to spark thought, to soothe, and to stir. Whether addressing solitude, crisis, or resilience, Tsalamata remains grounded in her belief that art is a powerful form of communication—one that continues to evolve as she explores new dimensions, techniques, and truths.
