The 2026 exhibition Raphael: Sublime Poetry at the Metropolitan Museum of Art marks the first major U.S. retrospective devoted to Raphael. Presented as a comprehensive survey of the artist’s achievement, the exhibition features 33 paintings and 146 drawings, including The Alba Madonna, on loan from the National Gallery of Art, and the Louvre’s Portrait of … Read More
I’ve painted and drawn Connie for twenty-five years. She has come to pose for me in my studio—from my first space in Long Island City to my current studio in Brooklyn. Over that time, our relationship has become an essential part of my work. An artist’s relationship with a model is symbiotic. The model is … Read More
This drawing is of Connie who has been a long-time muse for my work. I do multiple drawings of the same model’s head, variants exploring subtle tilts or shifts of axis, facets, and emotions of my subject. All studies for a potential painting idea. This process allows me to truly understand the intricacies of Connie’s appearance … Read More
My Arrival Sicily Art Workshop After three grueling days dealing with plane delays and cancellations, I finally flew into Palermo, Sicily. Rosetta Sciacca, our host, with her husband, Michael Volkov, picked me up with our driver Antonio. It’s the first time I am visiting Sicily, but the topography is very similar to Crete, my parents’ … Read More
Artists Magazine asked, “When it comes to draftsmanship, who’s your favorite artist?” Five artists answered, including Costa Vavagiakis. “I’d have to say the ‘holy trinity’ of the High Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci [1452–1519] for his inventiveness and creativity, Michelangelo [1475–1564] for his ingenuity and imagination, and Raphael [1483–1520] for his grace and ability to communicate.”
Artists Magazine asked, “How does art make the world a better place?” Nine artists answered, including Costa Vavagiakis. “Art offers messages that can capture our emotions, revealing a pure moment of humanity that we share with the artist, transcending time and place. It can open the imagination.”
Artists Magazine asked, “What’s an art book that’s on your reading list this year?” Seven artists answered, including Costa Vavagiakis. During this challenging time, I chose to return to two enduring classic essays: Junichiro Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows” and John Ruskin’s “On Art and Life.” Both delve into the desire to maintain cultural identity … Read More
Drawing from sculpture is a centuries-old learning method for artists. Studies drawn from major works of sculpture offer a direct approach to understanding the power of expression and form. In addition to the technical value of the skills gained through this process, one is exposed to the choices made by the hand of the master. … Read More
I’ve invited my longtime student Stephanie Markel to compare her experiences studying art at a school and in a private studio, or as they say, “in real life,” and now virtually, on a digital platform. Stephanie has been a student of mine at the Art Students League and has also studied with me privately. A … Read More
On the evening of March 11, the Art Students League announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school would close indefinitely. I was teaching my evening painting class when the word came down. We were all in shock; it was like all the air let out of a balloon. The students were revving up … Read More