Humanography: Paramythia

An Exhibition of Contemporary Myths & Tales by Matina Marki Tillman

Opening Reception:  Saturday Oct. 3rd, 2026, 2-5 pm

Greek artist Matina Marki Tillman will exhibit her new series of Humanography – etchings of the real and imaginary human – at the Washington Printmakers Gallery during the month of October.  The exhibition will present Tillman’s evolving collection of hand-pulled etched fables and tales, all created using the solar plate printmaking technique.

 “Paramythia” – meaning in Greek both “fairy tales” and “consolation” – while contemporary in subject, borrow from the familiar shape of perennial tales and their symbolic, solacing language.  Sparking from a Greek children’s rhyme, the “Paramythia” universe unfolds into a diverse assortment:  Folk and gothic-like tales in agreement or discord with human nature and nature itself; myths of individuality and polarity with doll cut-outs floating in worlds that shape or fight them; love stories held together despite the vortex of events; stories of ghost cities and their vacuum-trapped inhabitants. Female messengers, who unravel the thread that connects the fantastic with what you see (or with what was always there in the first place), are also entities one can encounter in “Paramythia.”  The pieces in this exhibition are organized mainly as pairs in dialogue with each other, encouraging the viewer to step close and perhaps enter into their world.

  This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of Chrysavgi Papageorgiou Marki, devoted mother and spirited travel companion of the artist. 

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About the Artist:

Matina Marki Tillman is a born and raised Greek, originally from the city of Ioannina in Northwestern Greece, an ever-evolving cultural center dating back to the 6th century Byzantine era.  Her culture combined later with her university background in Greek Medieval and Modern Literature and Poetry (University of Ioannina) has been a wellspring of inspiration for her deep-rooted interest in drawing the human.  She broadened her exposure to visual arts through college fine art classes, independent studies, and workshops including figure drawing, computer animation, and illustration.  In time, these led her to printmaking, where her drawing background plays a strong role in the creation of the print matrix.  Her award-winning work has been showcased in multiple national and international exhibitions and venues, including New York City’s National Arts Club, the Museum of Printing History in Houston, Reagan National Airport’s Gallery Walk, and the Royal Society of Printmakers Bankside Gallery in London.  Matina has been elected to multiple art organizations, most recently to the Society of American Graphic Artists.

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Browse This Exhibit

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