Athina Pappa was born in 1986 (Thessaloniki, Greece) and started drawing at the age of three also showing a particular interest in music and performing early on.
She graduated with honours from Kalamari Greek-French high school and studied Architecture at Democritus University of Thrace in Greece. Athina later received her Masters degree in Visual Communication (majored in Illustration) from Birmingham City University in the UK. Her academic focus throughout her studies has been the notion of metaphor and visual symbolism.
Athina’s artistry explores the themes of human-nature relationship and female empowerment. She describes her style as dream-pop and draws inspiration from nature mysticism, feminine spirituality and pop culture.
‘The dreamy quality I often chase in my work is about accepting that a kinder world is possible, we only need to perceive it first. In that sense think of my practice as a witchy manifestation and an act of resistance.’
Athina has presented 11 solo shows, the latest being ‘Angel energy’ in ArtZone42 gallery (Athens, 2026). She has also participated in multiple group shows and her work has been exhibited in the UK, Spain, Australia, the US and in the Teloglion Foundation of Art and the MOMUS–Experimental Center for the Arts among other spaces in Greece. It has been published in a wide range of mediums from silk scarves, zines and wine labels to murals, music albums and posters. Athina received an honorable mention in the A’ Design Awards (Milan, Italy, 2019) for her logo of the Estrella brunch restaurant and a Certificate of Artistic Achievement from the Luxembourg Art Prize organization for high artistic quality for the years 2020 and 2021. Clients include natural winemaker Domaine Ligas, Europride and the University of Western Macedonia.
Athina lives and works between Thessaloniki and Athens carrying around her worn out sketchbooks and coloured pencils set at all times. You might see her drawing inside loud bars or thrifting vintage fashion in obscure shops. She loves practising ballet, adding salt to dark chocolate and her cat Kiana.
If you wish to see more of Athina’s journey into the arts and receive arty benefits you can subscribe to her Patreon page and access exclusive content:
https://www.patreon.com/athinapappa
