Layers of Time: Nicholas Pelekis and the Art of Recollection

Nicholas Pelekis, born in Athens, Greece, in 1975 and based in Adelaide, Australia, is a contemporary abstract expressionist painter. His work explores themes of memory and nostalgia, using colour, shape, and texture to convey both real and imagined narratives. Pelekis’ paintings create a dialogue between the past and present, inviting viewers to engage and reflect on their own emotional and psychological layers of personal and collective experiences.

Pelekis primarily works with highly pigmented acrylic paint in varying viscosities and transparencies, along with acrylic ink and soft pastels. Each material serves a distinct purpose in his process, contributing to the depth, texture, and layering of his work.

His style is defined by methodical colour exploration, expressive mark-making, and a maximalist approach, while working with unconventional colour palettes and incorporating colour psychology to create visual impact. Even though his use of colour is bold, he explores its depth through intentional limitations, finding creativity within a restricted palette.

Pelekis creates art as a way to express his emotions and invites viewers to engage with the intricate details and carefully considered colour palettes. Through his work, he aims to evoke personal reflection, encouraging an emotional response shaped by individual experiences. His exploration of narratives of memory and nostalgia, examining how past events—both real and imagined—intersect and influence perceptions of the present. By blurring the boundary between fact and fiction, he seeks to capture the fluid nature of recollection and the way memories evolve over time.