10 Questions with Stavri Georgiou

Stavri Georgiou graduated from the University of Sussex with a Bachelor of Media and Communications and a Master's in Digital Media from Goldsmiths University of London. She has dealt with photography for the last nine years with a variety of work in her portfolio. Alongside photography, she deals with video making, digital design, and social media marketing. She has published in Vogue Greece and many more magazines and has won various photography competitions while exhibiting her work, including in New York and Los Angeles. She has worked as a Content Creator for fashion brands in London and has managed to gain a following of 11.9k on Instagram showcasing her work.

stavrig99.wixsite.com | @stavri_1999

ARTIST STATEMENT

The photographic work explores the interplay of light and emotion, using the controlled environment of the studio to create striking contrasts between blue and red hues. These colors are more than just aesthetics—they symbolize duality: calmness and intensity, tranquility and passion, coldness and warmth. By shaping light and shadow, a construction of visual narratives are formed that evoke mood, movement, and mystery.

Through the work, she aims to challenge perceptions of space and depth, using the stark contrasts of blue and red to create a cinematic atmosphere that feels both intimate and surreal. Each composition is an invitation to step into a world where color is not just a backdrop but an active force, guiding the viewer’s eye and evoking subconscious emotions.

At its core, the photographic work is about transformation—of subjects, of light, and of perspective. The studio becomes a canvas, and through the precise placement of color and shadow, images are crafted that blur the line between reality and abstraction.

INTERVIEW

What initially drew you to photography, and how has your practice evolved over the past years?

I started photography as a hobby when I was 14. My dad is a painter and he kind of influenced me to be into artistic stuff. I had made an account for Instagram and started taking pictures with the phone all the time to post. I realized I really liked it and saved money to get my first camera. That’s how randomly I started photography. My love for it never left. My practice has definitely changed over the past years because I changed as a person. I first started photographing mostly nature, landscapes, etc. When I started traveling more, I photographed street moments and people, and finally, afterward, I started a bit of fashion photography when I moved to London.

Beyond photography, you also work with video, digital design, and social media. How do these disciplines influence your creative vision?

These influence my work a lot. Social media is the vital reason for which I produce content. Social media can be a great inspiration for getting ideas, discovering new artists, and influencing my work. Both digital design and videography are extensions of what I do. Sometimes when I don’t have ideas for images, I might have an idea for a video. They kind of go together, though. Usually, my idea of one influences the other. In digital design, I have a completely different style. Each one of them, though, influences my work in general.

Your work explores the interplay of light and emotion. How do you approach lighting to create the moods and contrasts in your images?

Light and emotion are the most important aspects of photography for me. I kinda like natural lighting the best. I go with what exists. If I see a moment with lighting I like, I capture it. With the right editing, then I can create the moods and contrasts I want.

Blue and red play a central role in your compositions. What first inspired you to use these colors, and how do they shape the stories you tell?

I’ve always been drawn to the emotional weight of color, and blue and red have an innate tension that fascinates me. Blue is often associated with melancholy, depth, and contemplation, while red conveys urgency, passion, and intensity. Together, they create a dynamic interplay of feeling—calm versus chaos, distance versus intimacy. They allow me to build visual narratives that feel both cinematic and psychologically charged, shaping the mood of my compositions in a way that words alone could never achieve.

Your photographs often have a cinematic quality. Are there particular films, directors, or visual artists who influence your aesthetic?

Absolutely. I find deep inspiration in filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai, whose use of color and light is almost hypnotic, and Andrei Tarkovsky, who creates dreamlike atmospheres with long, meditative shots. The work of artists like James Turrell and Edward Hopper also resonates with me—Turrell for his manipulation of light and perception and Hopper for his ability to infuse seemingly ordinary spaces with a profound sense of solitude and mystery. These influences push me to treat each frame as a standalone story, with an emphasis on mood, space, and subtle tension.

You mention challenging perceptions of space and depth. How do you use studio environments to create a sense of surrealism in your work?

The studio is like a controlled dreamscape for me. I manipulate lighting, reflections, and unconventional props to distort perspective, making the familiar feel strange. By playing with shadows, colored gels, or unexpected angles, I aim to create images that feel like they exist in a liminal space—somewhere between reality and illusion. I also love using mirrors, fabric, and layered compositions to create a sense of depth that isn’t immediately clear, inviting viewers to question what they’re seeing.

Your work has been published in Vogue Greece and exhibited internationally. How have these experiences shaped your career as an artist?

Being featured in Vogue Greece and exhibiting internationally has reinforced my belief in the power of visual storytelling. These opportunities have connected me with wider audiences and challenged me to refine my vision. Seeing my work in different cultural contexts has also been eye-opening—it’s fascinating to observe how people interpret my images based on their own experiences. It’s a reminder that art is a dialogue, not just an expression of self.

With a strong social media presence, do you see platforms like Instagram as an extension of your artistic practice or as a separate aspect of your career?

Social media is both a tool and a space for artistic expression. On one hand, it allows me to share work instantly and connect with an audience beyond traditional galleries. But at the same time, I see my Instagram presence as a curated extension of my practice rather than its core. While it’s an incredible way to showcase process, mood, and experiments, the depth of a piece is always best experienced in print or in a physical space.

Your artist statement speaks of transformation—of subjects, light, and perspective. What does transformation mean to you, both in art and in life?

Transformation is at the heart of everything I do. In art, it’s about shifting perception—turning something mundane into something extraordinary or using light to completely alter an atmosphere. In life, transformation is about growth, reinvention, and embracing change. I think my fascination with transformation stems from the idea that nothing is truly static; everything is in flux, and photography allows me to capture those in-between states in a poetic way.

Speaking of transformation, how do you see your work evolving in the coming years? Do you have any new series or long-term projects you would like to share with our readers?

I’m always evolving, and right now, I’m particularly interested in exploring fashion photography more. I’m developing some projects that delve deeper into the idea of fashion and experimentation. In the long term, I’d love to join a big agency and work with artists in other disciplines to push my work into new, immersive directions.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.