Chryssa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chryssa
Born	Chryssa Vardea-Mavromichali (1933-12-31)December 31, 1933 Athens, Greece
Died	December 23, 2013(2013-12-23) (aged 79) Athens, Greece
Nationality	Greek American
Education	Académie de la Grande Chaumière, California School of Fine Arts
Known for	Luminist sculpture
Spouse(s)	Jean Varda ​ (m. 1955⁠–⁠1958)​

Chryssa Vardea-Mavromichali (Greek: Χρύσα Βαρδέα-Μαυρομιχάλη; December 31, 1933 – December 23, 2013) was a famous Greek American artist. She was known for her amazing art that used light. Chryssa created sculptures and installations with materials like neon lights, steel, and aluminum.

She was a pioneer in "light art" and "luminist sculpture." This means she was one of the first artists to really explore how light could be used in art. She always went by the single name Chryssa in her professional life. She worked in New York City from the mid-1950s. Later, in 1992, she opened a studio in Athens, Greece.

About Chryssa's Life

Chryssa was born in Athens, Greece, in 1933. Her family was well-known and educated. Even though they weren't super rich, they valued learning and culture. One of her sisters was friends with a famous writer named Nikos Kazantzakis.

Chryssa started painting when she was a teenager. She also studied to become a social worker. In 1953, when she was 19, her family sent her to Paris. She studied art at a school called the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. There, she met other important artists and thinkers.

In 1954, Chryssa moved to the United States. She first went to San Francisco to study art. In 1955, she moved to New York City and became a U.S. citizen. She also set up her own art studio. That same year, she married another artist, Jean Varda, but they later separated in 1958 and divorced in 1965.

Chryssa's picture was included in a famous poster from 1972. It was called "Some Living American Women Artists" by Mary Beth Edelson. This showed how important she was in the art world.

Chryssa passed away in Athens, Greece, on December 23, 2013. She was 79 years old.

Chryssa's Important Artworks

Chryssa created many unique and important artworks throughout her career. Here are some of her most famous pieces and moments:

The Cycladic Books (1957)

This was Chryssa's first big artwork. It was a series of plaster reliefs. These artworks looked like ancient Cycladic sculptures, which are known for their simple, geometric shapes. An art critic said these works were ahead of their time.

Arrow: Homage to Times Square (1958)

This is a very large sculpture, about 8 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It's made of painted aluminum. Chryssa once said this was the only artwork she kept in her studio for a long time. Today, it's part of the Rockefeller Collection in Albany.

Times Square Sky (1962)

This artwork is made of neon lights, aluminum, and steel. It measures about 5 feet by 5 feet. It's now displayed at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Museum of Modern Art Exhibition (1963)

Chryssa's art was shown at the famous Museum of Modern Art in New York City. She was part of an important exhibition called "Americans 1963." Other well-known artists like Claes Oldenburg and James Rosenquist were also in this show.

The Gates to Times Square (1966)

This is one of Chryssa's most famous works. It's a huge cube, 10 feet tall, with two giant letter "A"s. People can actually walk through it! It's made of shiny stainless steel and acrylic glass, with soft blue neon lights that change patterns. It's like a glowing block that seems to "quiver." This artwork is seen as a tribute to the bright lights and advertising of Times Square. It's now at the Albright–Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.

Clytemnestra (1967–1968)

This artwork is inspired by a Greek story about a woman named Clytemnestra. It shows her sadness when her daughter is going to be sacrificed. Chryssa's friend, the actress Irene Papas, played Clytemnestra in a play. This artwork is in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.. Another version of it is in Athens, Greece.

Whitney Museum Solo Exhibition (1972)

The Whitney Museum of American Art held a special exhibition just for Chryssa's artworks. This was a big honor for her.

That's All (early 1970s)

This artwork is a part of a larger piece related to "The Gates of Times Square." It was bought by the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Untitled Light Sculpture (1980)

This is a massive light sculpture, 70 feet long! It has six large "W" shapes connected by cables. Electronic programs make the 900 feet of neon tubing create changing light patterns. You can see it hanging in the main area of a building in Chicago, Illinois.

Mott Street (1983)

This artwork is named after Mott Street in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York. It's a large piece made of dark aluminum and red neon light. It's installed in the Evangelismos station of the Athens Metro in Greece.

Return to Greece (1992)

After many years in New York, Chryssa returned to Greece in 1992. She found an old movie theater that was being used as a storage room. She turned it into her new art studio. She even used old school desks to build huge benches for her work. The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens now owns some of her works, like "Cycladic Books."

Where to See Chryssa's Art

Chryssa's artworks are displayed in many important museums and galleries around the world.

Solo Exhibitions (Some Examples)

• 1961: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• 1972: Whitney Museum of American Art
• 1979: Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

Group Exhibitions (Some Examples)

• 1963: Museum of Modern Art
• 1977: Documenta '77 in Kassel
• 2017: documenta 14

Museum Collections (Some Examples)

You can find Chryssa's art in the permanent collections of these places:

• Albright–Knox Art Gallery
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• Museum of Modern Art
• National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens
• Walker Art Center
• Whitney Museum of American Art

Images for kids

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  Chryssa

See also

In Spanish: Chryssa para niños