There are 25K influencers with a reach over 20,000!Venizelos G. Gavrilakis, born in 1976 in Thessaloniki, Greece, he is an expert in the conservation and restoration of Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons, historical paintings, historical objects and antiquities. He received his specialized education at Mount Athos, Greece, focusing on Byzantine art, history, and Icons. Gavrilakis is a graduate of the government-certified Department of Art and Antiquities Conservation and Restoration, accredited by the Greek Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs. He holds a professional license in conservation and restoration, also issued by the same ministry.
Further enhancing his skills, he attended courses at the Conservation Fine Art Faculty of "Palazzo Spinelli" in Florence, Italy, covering various techniques such as art conservation and restoration of oil paintings, gilded artwork, and traditional gilding methods. Gavrilakis has actively participated as a speaker and key-note speaker in several international conservation meetings and conferences held in Greece, Bulgaria, United States, Turkey and other countries internationally.
Since 1994, and with more than 30 years of experience of conservation and restoration to important historic culture heritage artworks and antiquities, Gavrilakis has served as a senior expert art conservator and restorer, contributing his expertise in Greece, United States, Turkey, Dubai and others country globally. His portfolio includes the conservation and restoration of numerous significant historical oil paintings by renowned artists such as Ivan Aivazovsky, Renoir, ancient Fayum Egyptian mummy portraits, as well as important Byzantine and Ottoman-era paintings, icons, panels, frescoes, marquetry, textiles, etc. He is also expended his expertism’s on antiquities undertaking international governmental project such as an important antiquities conservation project in Dubai with a government department.
In 2012, Gavrilakis and his wife Vaia A. Karagianni they founded "Ieri Parakatathiki Labs" for the conservation and restoration of historical artwork and antiquities, which is based in Istanbul.
In December 2022, VENIS STUDIOS was born, embodying "The Science and Art of Conservation & Restoration" and upholding the highest national standards, ethics, and quality globally. It reflects the values and expertise of its president, Venizelos G. Gavrilakis, whose name stands as a guarantee of excellence.
Notably, Gavrilakis has held managerial positions at art conservation laboratories in the monasteries of Mount Athos in Northern Greece, the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul and Halki Theological Seminary in Istanbul. He also supervised practical training for graduates of prestigious art institutions during their internships in Istanbul.
At VENIS STUDIOS, numerous undergraduate and professional conservators and restorers from around the world come to learn and receive training under his guidance.
Gavrilakis is an active member of several esteemed professional associations, including KMKD, AIC, IIC, and the ROMOE conservators’ network, Gavrilakis has made substantial contributions to the field through his teaching engagements and publications. He has shared his expertise through lectures at prestigious institutions such as Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts and Istanbul University, as well as at various other organizations and institutions.
Furthermore, Gavrilakis has been invited to deliver conference presentations at HERITAGE ISTANBUL in 2021, 2023, and 2024, as a key-note speaker to St Kliment of Ohrid Univeristy of Sofia, etc, showcasing his in-depth knowledge and experience in art conservation and restoration. His commitment to sharing knowledge and advancing the field is evident through his active participation in academic and professional events worldwide.
In December 2021, Venizelos Gavrilakis and VENIS STUDIOS garnered international attention when they were photographed by the renowned "Getty Images" agency while working on an important restoration and conservation project in Istanbul. Also, they requested to be interviewed by "REUTERS," leading to global coverage across various continents including the United States, Europe, Turkey, Asia, India, Indonesia, China, Japan, Africa, Australia and Midle East. Their endeavors were prominently featured on numerous worldwide television channels such as "INDIA CNN," "NTD," and the Russian Government Channel, among others, both governmental and non-governmental, reaching audiences across the globe.
Their story also made headlines in a multitude of internet newspapers and magazines. Furthermore, Venizelos Gavrilakis was interviewed by prominent Greek, Turkish and national media outlets, including the Greek National Television "EΡΤ3" and the Greek Cretan Television KRETA TV. Since then, he has continued to be sought after for interviews and photo opportunities by numerous other media agencies globally, showcasing his expertise and contributions for safeguarding the historical cultural heritage.
They have also produced several art documentaries in collaboration with professional film companies and television productions such as GRDISCOVERY, anthropos PRODUCTIONS as well as in partnership with museums like MOMUS (Museum of Modern Art of Thessaloniki), focusing on the historic preservation, conservation, and restoration of significant cultural heritage objects. Their objective is to contribute to the safeguarding of global historic cultural heritage through these documentaries.
Venizelos Gavrilakis is widely recognized as a preeminent Senior Art Expert conservator and restorer on a global scale, affectionately known in professional circles as "The Art Doctor."
Additionally, in October 2021, Gavrilakis and his wife Vaia A. Karagianni Director/Manager and Art conservator and restore, were honored to be invited by the Eminence Archbishop of America to conserve and restore a 19th-century icon of St. Nicholas in Manhattan, New York, for the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States.
Venizelos G. Gavrilakis is the president of VENIS STUDIOS, an esteemed art conservation and restoration company based in Istanbul, Turkey, Gavrilakis oversees operations spanning across departments in Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, and beyond. Under his leadership, VENIS STUDIOS undertakes the preservation of historical artworks, antiquities and monuments worldwide, reaffirming Gavrilakis's commitment to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
[link-omitted]
