Elli Fotopoulou is a visual artist from Athens, Greece, with a background in classical music, particularly cello and music theory. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the Athens School of Fine Arts in 2020 and completed her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture at the Yale School of Art in 2024.
Her work explores the notions of space, human proximity/connection, focusing on the dynamics of pauses, held breaths, and the invisible frequencies that interconnect people through sonic sculpture installations. In my practice processes like metal casting, metal fabrication and mold making are combined with natural objects like cacti, milk thistles and dolphin vertebrae to become the fabric upon which I explore the capacities of sound. She creates sonic sculptural environments in distance and proximity utilizing transmissions and vibrations, sonic dislocation and tactility.
Most of her work takes the form of interactive installations and instruments inviting the audience to become conscious of their physical and emotional boundaries. Her installations are sensory landscapes unfolding around the viewers who explore tactilely explore the peculiar nature of the devices they activate, but are also invited in a deep listening space. This interdisciplinary approach allows the viewer a sensory engagement, encouraging them to interact with the work on a deeper, more immersive level.
Recently, she has also been expanding on somatic and vocal techniques, exploring the body through movement research and specifically rock climbing. As a neurodivergent artist, she draws from her own experiences to explore themes of synesthetic perception, mental health, and belonging. Through that interdisciplinary approach, she challenges conventional ideas of sculpture, offering environments that foster connection, inclusivity, and reflection on our shared human experiences.
Fotopoulou's work has been featured in various exhibitions internationally, including Athens, New York, Providence and Baltimore.
In the fall of 2024, Fotopoulou served as a visiting artist at Sloss Metal Arts, where she continued to explore sonic and audible sculpture installations and sound objects/instruments. She is currently teaching Metal Sculpture at the Brooklyn College.
Her work has been recognized for its innovative use of materials and engagement with sensory experiences, contributing to contemporary discussions in sculpture and installation art.