The Orthodox Observer’s Dr. Claire Koen sat down with Krisann Kontaxis, mother of the celebrated artist and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, Nicholas Kontaxis, whose exhibit, “Catch Me,” is currently on display at the Basil and Elise Goulandris Museum in Athens from March 13 – May 13, 2025. Nicholas has suffered from a seizure disorder from the age of 14 months. Now 29, he continues to beat the odds in his work as a full-time artist. His work has been displayed in a number of solo shows from New York to London, and most recently in Greece, and his work can also be found among the private collections of Beth Rudin DeWoody, Denise Gardner, Eric Schmidt, Jeremy Zimmer, and Roger Federer, among others. Nicholas and his family draw strength and comfort from their church community and faith lives, and the Orthodox Observer is happy to share the profound witness of their faith with our audience.
Claire: Thank you for joining me, Krisann! To start, can you tell me a little about your son, Nicholas?
Krisann: Yes! Nicholas is 29 years old and was born in Scottsdale, Arizona
Our main focus was keeping him safe while giving him as normal a childhood as possible.
Around age 14 or 15, painting entered his life, though in hindsight, he had been preparing for it all along. His epilepsy limited physical activities, but therapy and hands-on tasks helped him retain dexterity, which later enabled him to excel as an artist.
Nicholas Kontaxis, “Let’s Make It Beautiful,” 2023
His first show in Los Angeles was a turning point—it sold out, proving that painting could be a real career. This success led to exhibitions in Idaho, Chicago, London, Brooklyn, Atlanta, New York City, and, most recently, at the Goulandris Museum in Greece. The experience there has been incredible. We’re working with a wonderful curator, graphic designer, and book designer, and the museum staff has been incredibly supportive.
Nicholas is deeply religious, attending Saint George Parish every Sunday without fail, often midweek as well. His faith brings him peace and structure.
Claire: How does his faith influence his artwork?
Krisann: It’s everything to him. He finds deep communion in church and is profoundly connected to iconography—he was present when our church’s mosaics were installed and still spends time by them. His faith sustains him and fuels his art.
When I see him step up to his work, he has that same feeling he gets from church. It goes straight into images. I thank God every day because his journey has been incredibly tough.
Nicholas painting “Catch Me,” a Browder safety net artwork created with acrylic and ash, serving as the centerpiece of his solo exhibition at the Goulandris Museum in Athens.
Getting knocked down like that, every day, takes so much away. We didn’t think he’d still be here, and that alone is incredible.
As he got older, we searched for a house with a studio space. We needed it to be part of our home. Now, living in this house, watching his art flourish, seeing it land in different countries like Holland—it’s a blessing.
We’re also thrilled about the Goulandris Museum’s outreach program. I’ll be on a panel with an epilepsy neurologist from Athens’ largest hospital, speaking to parents of children with challenges. The museum is recreating Nicholas’s studio, bringing kids in for two months to learn about overcoming obstacles and helping others do the same.
Nicholas Kontaxis, “Yiayia is Here,” 2024.
Living with up to ten unpredictable seizures a day shaped Nicholas’s life, instilling discipline out of necessity. What his family didn’t expect was how this would manifest in his art. His creative process depends on how he feels—on difficult days, he works on the floor; on stronger days, he stands and tackles multiple pieces. He uses over 250 palette knives, constantly adapting. His signature style includes dot pulls, often applying paint directly from tubes, a method that suits his physical needs. The museum exhibition highlights this theme of accessibility—art is about adapting, whether by sitting, lying down, or using tools that work for you.
In 2014, we started writing down everything Nicholas said while painting, knowing his speech was fading. We taped notes to the edges of his canvases, recording his words as he worked. That way, each piece carries his voice.
Nicholas’s mother records his utterances and phrases while he paints, which later become the titles of his works.
More things are said than paintings are made, but we’ve kept them all— a beautiful archive. They remind us of everything he knows, even if he struggles to express it clearly. His utterances give us hope because, even when seizures lock him in, his hands can still move, and he can paint. Though epilepsy affects him deeply, his joy outweighs its impact.
Claire: The Orthodox Church teaches that each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, serving as icons of Christ to one another. Through his person and work, what does Nicholas communicate about Christ and our relationship with God?
Krisann: Despite all he has endured, Nicholas radiates joy. His heart and soul remain untouched by the misfiring of his brain, which, to me, is profound. We all face hardships, but must they wound our souls? Or can we, with God at our side, remain whole, knowing that Christ dwells within us.
Nicholas Kontaxis, “Check My Heart,” 2023
Nicholas is a beautiful example. His burdens and ailments do not affect his soul. With Christ in our hearts, we can endure anything.
This world is not perfect—we are here to learn how to live eternally. We are meant to cultivate kindness, love, and beauty in our souls. Nicholas embodies this. Perhaps his constant suffering has led him to retreat into his heart, where true peace resides.
