Lazarus Ioannou

"Stand in the middle of a forest. Everything becomes strange but familiar, you are alone but not lonely, peaceful but wary, and feel small despite the largeness you are now a part of. The story of all these feelings, experiences, and moods feed the passion for my expression. Canada's natural landscape offers a link to life on this land, reminding us that everything is connected. In some small way I hope to capture the emotion through colour, shape, and texture to share the journey with anyone in need of a good story." Lazarus Ioannou

Bruce Peninsula artist/designer Lazarus Ioannou's passion is creating unique, dream-like, textural paintings of Canada's wildlife and landscape. Lazarus was drawn to the rich artistic and cultural heritage Bruce-Grey County has to offer, having recently uprooted his life in Toronto to replant a permanent home for his Fine Art creations in Oliphant Ontario, on the shores of Lake Huron.

Laz has been a creative soul since childhood, but his portfolio grew after receiving a handful of scholarships and awards from the esteemed Ontario College of Art & Design in the early nineties- sparking a 13 year career in Canada's advertising industry as an Art Director and Associate Creative Director, and has been recognized for his contribution with several industry awards over the years.

Now focusing on his roots as a painter/designer/visual artist, his work reflects his new surroundings as much as his past experiences. The textural landscape of the Bruce's flora and fauna provide much of his inspiration now, in artwork Laz describes as "a mosaic of modern, traditional, impressionist, and graphic elements that work together in a unique way to express the way we perceive and experience the natural world around us".

Working mostly with brush and acrylic paint on wood and canvas, he creates a seamless textural weaving using an 'earthy' palette of colours that create simple-yet-complex stylized visions of the way earth, water, people, and animals co-exist. Many can be seen displayed in corporate and private collections across North America, as well as prominent public galleries.

Laz's debut of paintings in the local art scene garnered him the 2008 Feast for the Eyes "Visionary Award" at the Southampton Art Gallery, as well as several articles and accolades. In 2009 and 2010, his paintings "Snow Crow Storm" and "Night Light" were selected to grace the streets of downtown Owen Sound as part of the Art Banner beautification project. His art is also locally displayed at Southampton Art Gallery and School, and Matilda Swanson Gallery in Clarksburg.

Lazarus hopes to continue to amaze, surprise and inspire people with his ever-evolving imagination, creativity, and expression. Commissions welcomed.

Top Image:
Georgian Gale
acrylic on wood (commissioned)

2nd Image:
Little Landscapes (various paintings)
acrylic on canvas

3rd Image:
Compilation (various paintings)
acrylic on wood or canvas

4th Image:
October Farm
acrylic on canvas

5th Image:
Snow Crow Storm
acrylic on wood

Contact information —
Lazarus Ioannou/Lazarusi Studios
Oliphant (Wiarton), South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
ph. 519-534-5346
e-mail: lazarusi@sympatico.ca
web site: www.lazarusi.wordpress.com