Private equity investor and figurative sculptor, George Petrides and his case for “dual careers”

George Petrides joins Enterprise Radio to discuss how he has built a dual career as both a private equity investor and figurative sculptor. When he’s not focused on banking, he creates sculptures from live models and his imagination to convey the beauty and imperfection of the human body and soul.”

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest George Petrides discuss the following:

  1. How do you combine your business life with your artistic life?
  2. What are your goals when you make art?
  3. Who are some of the artists who inspire you – historical and current?
  4. As to galleries and upcoming shows, where is your work displayed currently and what is next?
  5. What advice would you offer to entrepreneurs (or anyone) hoping to “follow their bliss”?

Collectors and critics have described his figurative sculptures as “beautiful”, “emotive”, and “lifelike” and unique to most figurative sculpture they have seen before. Working from life models, he uses mixed materials – clay, metals, acids, paint, wood – to convey the beauty and imperfection of the human body and soul.

As a child George was drawn to sketching and watercolors. He put the artistic path on hold as he earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard in Classics and his dual MBA and MA from Stanford. He worked as a successful investment banker for many years, occasionally attending classes at NY art schools. In recent years, he has been devoting more of this time to making figurative art, mostly sculpture but also drawing and painting.

His influences include Classical Greek (which he grew up with in his hometown of Athens), the later European sculptors who were influenced by it such as Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol, and currently working sculptor/painters such as Lupertz, Baselitz, Shutte, and Houseago.

His most recent exhibition at Van Der Plas Gallery in New York City was a success, including having his piece “Alex Withdrawn” lauded by Artcritical as well as by two sculptors represented in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Van Der Plas continues to offer that piece which is being issued as 7 unique variants + 2 artists proofs. His next show is scheduled for May 2020 at the Greek Consulate of New York.


Instagram: @geopetrides_art

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