Matthias Laurenz Gräff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthias Laurenz Gräff
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Matthias Laurenz Gräff in 2016
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| Born | 19 July 1984 Gars am Kamp, Lower Austria
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| Known for | painting, drawing |
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Notable work
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political paintings |
| Movement | Expressionism, Expressive Realism, Modern art, Pop art |
| Awards | Adolf Peschek public Award (City museum of St. Pölten, 2014) |
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Matthias Laurenz Gräff
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| Chairman of the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff | |
| Assumed office 1 August 2013 |
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| NEOS Representative for Greece | |
| Assumed office 25 March 2024 |
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| Personal details | |
| Political party | NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum |
| Spouse | Georgia Kazantzidu |
| Parents |
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| Website | NEOS Representative Matthias Laurenz Gräff |
Matthias Laurenz Gräff (born on July 19, 1984) is an artist, historian, and politician from Austria and Greece. He is known for his paintings and for being involved in political discussions. Since 2013, he has led the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff. In 2024, he became the official representative for Greece for the NEOS political party. He also helped start a non-political discussion group called Dialog im Kamptal.
Contents
About Matthias Laurenz Gräff
His Family Background
Matthias Laurenz Gräff comes from an Austrian family with many artists and politicians. His father, Helmuth Gräff, is also a painter. His mother, Martina Maria Elisabeth Gräff, is an art professor. Her father was the architect Richard Gach.
Matthias Laurenz Gräff's family has a long history. Some of his ancestors were politically active. They also had their own coat of arms, which is a special family symbol. In 2013, Matthias Laurenz Gräff became the leader of the global Family Association Gräff-Graeff. This group connects descendants of the Gräff-Graeff families.
Since 2010, Gräff has been in a partnership with Georgia Kazantzidu. She is from Greece and is a journalist and local politician. They work on many projects together. They live in Gars am Kamp, Austria, and Platamon, Greece.
His Art Journey
Matthias Laurenz Gräff started drawing when he was very young. At 17, he began studying illustration and graphic design. Later, he studied painting at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. He also studied philosophy.
His art style mixes Expressionism and Pop art. He paints many different things. These include historical scenes, political topics, and religious works. He also paints landscapes, portraits, and still lifes.
Gräff is a member of the St. Pöltner Künstlerbund, an art union. In 2010, he won the "Adolf Peschek Public Award." He has also created paintings for wine labels. One time, a painting for a wine label caused a small media stir.
His paintings often explore themes from books. He has participated in exhibitions at the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center. This museum even has some of his paintings. His work "Der Weg zurück" (The Way Back) is used in books about the author Erich Maria Remarque.
Historical Paintings
Matthias Laurenz Gräff also creates historical paintings. His main project from 2007/2008 was called Weltaussenschau-Weltinnenschau. It included seven paintings of historical figures. Many of these were from the De Graeff family during the Dutch Golden Age.
He has painted other historical people and events too. Some of his historical paintings have been used in essays by historians. For the Lions Club, he painted portraits of pacifists on a life-size lion. This artwork shows his support for humanistic and ethical ideas.
His Political Involvement
Art and Politics
Since 2015, Matthias Laurenz Gräff has created art that comments on politics and society. These works have appeared in newspapers and books. He focuses on topics like anti-fascism and being pro-European. He also looks at social issues in Austria.
For the 2019 European Parliament election, Gräff made a pro-European painting. He worked with the Austrian party NEOS on this. The Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center noted that he supports humanistic and pro-European ideas in his art and discussions.
Dialog im Kamptal
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Matthias Laurenz Gräff and Georgia Kazantzidu organize "Dialog im Kamptal" (Dialogue in Kamptal). This is a non-political platform for discussions. It takes place at their art studio in Gars am Kamp. The events help people learn and talk about important political and social topics. Many important people have attended these discussions.
As a Politician
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Matthias Laurenz Gräff became active in politics in 2022. He represents the NEOS party in Gars am Kamp. He was also a candidate for the Lower Austrian state elections in 2023.
In March 2024, Matthias Laurenz Gräff became the official NEOS Representative for Greece. This role involves representing NEOS in Greece. He also works to build connections with liberal Greek parties. This helps Austrians living abroad stay connected.
Art Exhibitions and Collections
Exhibitions (selected)
- 2023, „Networking Remarque“, Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum Osnabrück
- 2023, „Ein Geschenk für Remarque“, Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum Osnabrück
- 2020, "Weltweit Worldwide Remarque", Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum Osnabrück
- "Deep Purple - Art and History - The exhibition". Celebrating 50 years of Deep Purple, Kunsthalle Köln-Lindenthal/Ger
- Gräff organized artist meetings with Nick Simper and Don Airey, musicians of Deep Purple in Vienna
- In 2017, he organized a charity event for Polyneuropathy at WUK Vienna/AT.
- "Garser Wein 2016", 10 years Garser wine at "Weinfest '16", Gars am Kamp
- "Der Anreiz des Seins, Allegorie - Stillleben - Landschaft", Kunst im Waldviertel, Kunst & Seminarhotel Geras/AT
- "Liebreizendes Griechenland", KunstSalon im Wiener Botschaftsviertel, Vienna/AT
- "Matthias Laurenz Gräff und Helmuth Gräff", Galerie Daliko, Krems an der Donau/AT
- Steirerschlössl Zeltweg, Red Bull Project Spielberg/AT
- Cityhall Korneuburg/AT
- Erstes österreichisches Museum für Alltagsgeschichte, Neupölla/AT
- Red Cross Lower Austria, Tulln an der Donau/AT
- Gaming Charterhouse/AT
- Siemens AG Headquarter, Linz/AT
- St. Pöltner Künstlerbund, Museum of the City of St. Pölten/AT
- Galerie Austria/AT
- Advent im Wiener Rathaus 2008 and ORF (Austrian broadcaster), Vienna/AT
- Diplom exhibition 2008, University of Applied Arts, Vienna/AT
- Kunsthalle Wien-Karlsplatz project space, Vienna/AT
Collections (selected)
- Erich Maria Remarque Friedenszentrum (Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center) Osnabrück/Ger
- Karl von Habsburg, head of the former imperial and royal house of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire
- Dr Karin Kneissl, former Foreign Minister of Austria
- Dr Erhard Busek, former Vice Chancellor of Austria
- Don Airey (Member of Deep Purple), England
- Dr Alexander Van der Bellen, 12th President of Austria, Vienna/AT
- Community of Gars am Kamp/AT
- Nick Simper (Founding member of Deep Purple), England
- Embassy of Greece in Vienna/AT/GRE
- Schloss Kornberg Castle, collection of the Counts of Bardeau/Grafen von Bardeau/AT
- Community of Gars am Inn/GER
- Community of Neupölla/AT
- Red Cross of Lower Austria, Tulln an der Donau/AT
- Austrian Red Cross, Vienna/AT
- Art Collection University of Applied Arts, Vienna/AT
- Geras Abbey, Geras/AT
Family Association Gräff-Graeff
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| Formation | 2013 |
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| Type | Family association |
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Membership
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Gräff, Graeff, De Graeff family lines |
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Chairman
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Matthias Laurenz Gräff |
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Vice Chairman
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Rudolf Gräff jr |
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Main organ
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General assembly |
In 2013, Matthias Laurenz Gräff helped create the Family Association Gräff-Graeff. He also became its chairman. This organization is for people who are descendants of the (De) Graeff families. It includes the Dutch De Graeff line. The association was officially registered in Austria in 2013.
See also
In Spanish: Matthias Laurenz Gräff para niños
