Salomi Economidi is a classic case of a genuine talent who did not want to follow in her parents’ professional footsteps but instead was driven by the artistic concerns she had from an early age. Daughter of Bambos Economides, businessman and member of the well-known David family of Coca-Cola, and Angela Vayoni, whose family owned the ELCO business, after finishing school she moved to London where she lived for six precious years. Nurtured in art from childhood, as her parents are not only friendly but also notable collectors, Salome studied Art History at the famous Goldsmiths University of London and then did a Master’s in Art Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. “Although during my studies I realized that the business world of art is vast, something always drew me to create,” she confesses to Gala magazine.
We met at the TAT gallery, which is housed in the new Astir Marina Vouliagmeni and hosts the group exhibition “Temporality”, in which Salomi is participating, presenting her works to the general public for the first time. Colors, original depiction of reality, and pop mood from a modern girl of 24 years old who filters life through her own artistic view.
“From a young age I have used painting as a way of expression. Ever since I became aware of my existence I remember sitting with my grandmother, who was also an artist, and spending endless hours in her studio. They said that I was like her and that I had an artistic vein too. At home I always heard conversations about art since my parents are collectors. The challenge was to be able to stand next to so many great painters that I saw that have always graced our spaces.”
The pandemic season was a good opportunity for Salome to devote herself to what she enjoyed most. “During the COVID period I, like everyone else, had plenty of free time and I realized that the only thing that helped me was to spend endless hours practicing my hitherto favorite hobby, painting,” she says. Salome is still hesitant as she has not yet completed her studies and doesn’t know how she will move on to the next day until a British man visits her London home as a prospective buyer of the property and becomes obsessed with one of her paintings. “Instead of buying the house, he ended up buying my painting,” she says with a smile. “So, accidentally and effortlessly, my first piece sold.”