High Artist Spotlight: Myrto Petrou
Myrto Petrou is an illustrator originally from Cyprus and currently residing between there and Dubai. She has been experimenting with illustration for many years, using various mediums. These include clay, pencil, ink, markers, paints, and digital software to explore various styles and aesthetics. Her current style is inspired by the lowbrow Kustom Kulture movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the dramatic shadows and shading of the comic noir genre, the playful environments of arcade-style video games and the quirky exaggerated forms of 90s cartoons. More recently, she has decided to expand into the realm of art toy design and is now working towards producing her very own characters as art toys made out of resin.
We recently caught up with Myrto after High Art 2022 to learn more about her most recent inspirations:
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Where do you find your creative inspiration?
From old cartoons, toys, graphic novels and film noir, video games, abandoned places.
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Why do you do what you do?
It makes me happy and I have a restless imagination that always wants to tell its stories.
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What art/artist do you most identify with?
Many artists from the Lowbrow, Kustom Kulture and Comix movements, as well as various street, and art toy artists.
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What themes do you pursue the most?
Characters going on journeys, urban culture, grungy and decrepit cities or places.
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What role does an artist have in society?
To get their work out and hopefully inspire and encourage others to find their creative outlet as well.
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What is your artistic outlook on life?
To find every opportunity to create and see inspiration anywhere and everywhere.
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What advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep at it, you will find your style with time and you will know the minute you do!
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Do you listen to music while you are creating? If yes, tell us your favorite song and artist.
I always listen to something. Music, horror stories, news, political debates, crime videos. If I'm listening to music, it's usually old school funk, jazz, soul, greek rap or blues rock depending on my mood.
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What's the best thing about being an artist?
The world feels so much more exciting and full of inspiration.
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What is your dream project?
To create a character that becomes an art toy and to work with various other artists and brands to create customs for it.
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