I am a born and raised New Englander and first-generation Greek American, with roots in Crete and the Peloponnese. Growing up surrounded by Greek traditions and stories, I was deeply influenced by my family, several of whom were artists and Byzantine iconographers. Their creativity and reverence for history shaped my understanding of art as both a personal and cultural archive. My work weaves together plant symbolism, mythology, women’s history, and Mediterranean hues to explore how storytelling and symbolism shape memory, connection, and the Greek American identity. Honoring the historical significance of traditional art forms, I aim to preserve, reinterpret, and carry forward the stories I grew up with.
Panagiota Kourniotis is a born and raised New Englander and first-generation Greek American whose family hails from Crete and the Peloponnese. Within her work, she weaves together plant symbolism, mythology, women’s history, and the hues of Mediterranean culture. Panagiota’s work has been previously exhibited at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center, John Glenn International Airport, 934 Gallery, Blockfort Gallery and Studios, Wild Goose Creative, and more. She received the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s 2023 and 2024 Artist Supply Grant. And has been an artist at Blockfort Gallery and Studios since 2022. When not creating art or working within the arts, Panagiota enjoys road trips, testing new recipes, and spoiling her senior shelter cat Mara.