artist arite kannavos







The world of art and design continue to blend, and there's another great example in the work of Arite Kannavos. She is a Melbourne-based artist who has also worked as a textile designer. For the past seven years she has focussed on product development for a bedlinen brand. It's not surprising that while she continues to paint (and is exhibiting at the upcoming Melbourne Art Fair, starting Thursday 19 May), she has also launched Canter & Cave which showcases her art on homewares.

Which five words best describe you? Energetic, imaginative, focused, aware, interested.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started exhibiting after I graduated from university, albeit the shows were few and far in between, as at the same time I started working as textile designer and product developer in the homewares industry. Seven years later, I decided I needed to make more space for painting in my everyday life. So I picked up the brush and worked on my second solo show. As result of the new direction my work was taking, I felt inspired enough to launch my homewares label Canter & Cave earlier this year. The creative spirit is not something which you can easily disentangle yourself from, believe me I've tried!
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Keep creating, in any way shape or form. Seize the day.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I'm proud that I can be engaged in my work enough to keep on making works and share them with an audience.
What’s been your best decision? To follow my dream of leading a lifestyle centred around creativity.
Who inspires you? My 1.5 year old nephew is the most fascinating human being I have ever met. Upon visiting my studio, he started inspecting and lifting my works (the smaller ones, of course). I think he has assumed the role of artist's manager.
What are you passionate about? Art, travel, design, nature and knowledge.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? My great grandfather. He travelled to New York in the 1920s and came home with this amazing textile piece made up of small flags which is a now a family heirloom. I would love to ask him about the exact origin of the piece.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? There are so many. Exhibiting internationally would be a good start.
What are you reading? I tend to read a few books at the same time but Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, is sustaining my interest in an amusing way.

images courtesy of arite kannavos and canter & cave

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