Art Seen is an organization operating as a cultural platform of exchange in contemporary art. Its aim is to create bridges and dialogue between Cyprus and the international contemporary art scene. The idea was born from the need of new and creative collaborations that took a fresh look focusing on contemporary artistic approaches and reflecting upon the dynamic and changing art world.
Over the past eleven years Art Seen has been a pioneer in the development of the contemporary art scene in Cyprus.
Art Seen was founded by Maria Stathi, a curator who is passionate about contemporary art. She sees this platform as an opportunity to expand a cultural exchange with reference to the creative ferment around the cultural scene in Cyprus. She wants to develop mechanisms to collaborate, support and promote contemporary artists and their works responding to the current needs of the artists and the public.
Art Seen Projects
Art Seen projects is a non-profit contemporary art platform, which organises curatorial projects and exhibitions of local and international artists. Its program was inaugurated by a group exhibition with thirteen contemporary artists who collaborate with the gallery. This was then followed by the solo exhibition of the important and innovative conceptual artist Amikam Toren. Established and emerging Cypriot and International artists who excel both locally and internationally are part of this ambitious program of exhibitions with both solo and group exhibitions being organised.
The aim is to contribute to the cultural life by educating, reinforcing and developing the art scene of Cyprus as well as providing the opportunity to the local community to be introduced, inspired and familiarise themselves to contemporary art. At the same time Cyprus’ location at the cross roads of three continents, provides our platform with a unique position, enabling it to create bridges and dialogue between Europe, Middle East, and the International contemporary art scene.
Art Seen Editions
Art Seen editions commissions artists to produce ‘original’ limited edition prints and multiples that are available for sale online. The proceeds from the sale of the editions and multiples are used to support the exhibition program of our platform. Editions are strictly limited and there are no further releases at a later stages. The limited edition prints and multiples meet the desires not only of collectors but also of art lovers who wish to invest in contemporary art by important contemporary artists.
Art Seen is one of the few contemporary art spaces in Cyprus and was founded in 2013 and stared its operation in 2015. Art Seen commits to introduce artists who make up the local and international contemporary art scene, emphasizing the importance of their work. Art Seen aims to develop long-term relationships with museums, galleries and non-commercial institutions, curators, art-critics, collectors and the public.
Maria Stathi is the Founder and Director of Art Seen. She is an independent curator and art historian. She has been actively engaged in the field of contemporary art, for twenty years.
She studied Interior Architecture at Middlesex University London and completed an MA in Art & Space at Kingston University. She also holds a diploma in Art History and has undertaken specialised studies in art History, Contemporary Art, Art Criticism, and Curating at institutions such as Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Central Saint Martins.
From 1999 to 2010, she lived in London, where she worked for over five years as Director of Anthony Reynolds Gallery in the West End, contributing significantly to the international visibility of leading artists and to the development of strategic institutional collaborations.
From 2010 to 2013 she served as Director of Omikron Gallery in Nicosia and was responsible for the management of the private collection of Nikos Chr. Pattichis.
In 2015, she founded Art Seen with the aim of expanding cultural exchange and creative synergies between Cyprus and the international art scene.
Over the past fifteen years, she has curated and organised more than thirty-five solo exhibitions and over twenty-five group exhibitions, presenting the work of both established and emerging artists. Her curatorial projects include: Diana Taylor: Phantom Yarns, Cyprus High Commission, Cultural Section, London (2021); Eva Marathaki’s Room 525, Rooms, St George Lycabettus Hotel, Athens (2013); UTOPIA (co-curator), Evagoras Lanitis Centre, Limassol (2012); and the first edition of Exercises on Democracy (co-curator), part of the White House Biennial –the first online biennial– Athens (2013–2014).
She has edited numerous publications, including: Richard Billingham: Zoo, exh. cat. (2006). Lucia Nogueira, exh. cat. (2007). M. Diers, R. Greyson, Mark Wallinger (2008). Savvas Christodoulides: Things Contemplated and Reassigned, exh. cat. (2012). Socratis Socratous, The History of the War of Cyprus (2012). She has contributed articles to exhibition catalogues and magazines, including South as a State of Mind, an arts and culture journal published in Greece and distributed internationally.
In 2025 and 2026, she served as a jury member and mentor for the artist residency programme of the BAF Foundation in Nicosia.
Maria Stathi is a member of the Association of Women in the Arts (AWITA), London.
