Miami to Monaco and everywhere in-between: Peter Triantos
From humble beginnings to worldwide recognition and a vast clientele, Toronto-based Peter Triantos has created a significant impression as a contemporary and abstract artist. As he fills his studio, galleries, and the art sphere with his vibrant paintings, Triantos’ work reveals an innate expressionism for his craftsmanship.After immigrating to Toronto from the Greek Islands at the age of five, Triantos has now made a name for himself in the world of contemporary art. From creating commissioned works for VIP clientele, having his art being featured on hit TV shows like Suits, and contributing to various philanthropical endeavours, Triantos is continuing down a fruitful pathway of global success. After speaking with him, you can see why…
After doing some research I learned that you left high school in the ninth grade. Maybe you can give me some background on that and how exactly you broke into the art world?
“I left high school because, as much as I loved to learn, it wasn't something that I could actually afford at the time. My dad was an immigrant, there were three brothers and realistically there was no way I was going to attend university—and that’s a fact. So my first year at Central Tech Art School, I looked at my friend and I said my career is finished here. Although I would have wished to continue further, I’m glad that I didn’t to be honest with you. You know it’s a good course there, but the course I chose to follow was a long one—it took fifty-six years to get here and it was a very scenic route. There was nothing direct about it. I’ve always come back to art because I really love it. I never did it for the money, I just love the art world. Thank the Lord I got back in after I left school.
How did you initially discover your passion for art?
“I don’t believe anybody is born as an artist, that’s the biggest fallacy. People like to believe that ‘Oh yeah he’s born that way, he’s very talented’, but that’s pure fiction as far as I’m concerned. I think that it’s something that you’re maybe drawn to. It sparks something, it excites you, and then you practice it—and practice makes perfect. I’m not saying this [looks around] is perfect work. But it’s from here that my passion emerged and it’s a language. Colour is a language. I’m still trying to understand it. I think I know maybe two percent of this language.
So you think that perhaps this talent is acquired over time? It’s through practice that you developed your skill?
“Yeah, but the love was there from grade three. It started with a teacher giving me a huge piece of paper and said ‘here you guys go.’ I painted with little paints—it was an awesome space. I looked at a friend of mine that I’m still friends with today. He was drawing and it blew me away. He was doing landscapes and everything just came to life for me from then on. Within a month I was pretty advanced, all of a sudden it was like I became an artist. If I missed it and never saw art in my life, I think I would be lacking something. It’s a wonderful world.”
I can completely relate having grown up in the arts world my entire life. I can’t quite put my finger on it but there is just something about it.
“I’ll tell you what it is, it’s just very magical. I don’t want to get too much into what its done for me, but no matter what problems in my life, and I’ve had many, when I get down to doing the arts I feel at home—I feel very secure. I’ll lose myself in that art even though I might not be knowing what I’m creating at the time, I’m still immersed in this world where I’m free for that one second. And that’s why in this business, although we’ve had many, many offers from investors to purchase part of the company, I don’t want to be handcuffed. I want to be free and I love coming to my studio to create here.”
So you still want to be doing your own thing as an artist?
“Yes, yes. I get a lot of commissions and it kind of dictates to me in a way, but I do have some freedom and I wish to have more in the future as we tone down the commissions. I think the art is still at its birth. I can talk forever about this but what I can really say is you have to know what you’re good at. You can't wait too long. You know, people ask me ‘how long does it take you to paint that?,’ and I always say ‘fifty-six years.’ It takes a long time to make sure that you in your life know what your passion is. Even if you’re not the best in the world, it’s usually uniqueness that matters.”
Is there anyone who you look up to or maybe influenced you along your way?
“My only mentors were batman and superman to be honest with you, as well as my mother. Although zero education, she was one of the smartest people that I knew, and very honest. I never got any bad advice from her even though I was in trouble a lot. That kind of grounded me, and art for me is a beautiful place because you’re not doing anything wrong. I believe we’re making people happy. For me, art is a thank you letter for this beautiful life.”
I know you’ve been on multiple sides of art, including the philanthropical side, is this something that’s very important to you?
“It’s very important. Its important that my art is helping in whichever way it can. Its helped me in so many diverse, different ways. It made me a better person by a mile. I think its given me confidence in my life. It’s something I always knew as a young child I would be involved in and have something to fall back on.”
What do you regard as your greatest success?