Lefteris Karelis

Woodturner

©Semina Borodimou

©Lefteris Karelis

At the core of contemporary wood sculpture

Lefteris is a self-taught woodturner and wood sculptor
He works with local wood and combines many woodworking techniques to produce his pieces
Experimentation, patience and persistence are the cornerstones of his approach

A graduate of the University of Crete, his native island, Lefteris Karelis holds a diploma in Byzantine music. From a young age, he expressed his creativity through musical composition and the construction of traditional musical instruments. Later, he spent several years making decorative and utilitarian objects and jewellery from wood. In 2019, when Lefteris acquired his first wood lathe, his creative journey became linked with the craft of woodturning. “I love transforming a thought, an imaginary concept, or a rough sketch on paper into a tangible object,” he says. Lefteris is passionate about teaching other artisans his craft and the art of observation of the natural environment, as a stimulus for the creative process. "My advice for those starting out is to study experienced artisans and artists, fully understand the fundamentals of the art and medium, and then to forge their path forwards,” he says.

Interview

©Semina Borodimou

©Semina Borodimou

How would you describe your work?: My work is about transforming wood into organic, perforated, and biomorphic structures. The forms I create seem to belong in the natural world while having an abstract, artistic quality. The perforated and geometric patterns give a sense of transparency and lightness to the wood, a material usually associated with solid and heavy construction.
Which techniques do you use to create your work?: I always begin by working on the wood lathe using well-known techniques: spindle turning, face turning, eccentric turning and multi-axis turning. When this stage is completed, I continue with woodcarving, using electric and hand tools. What distinguishes my work is creating a core within a network through sculpture, from a single piece of wood.
How is your craft connected to your environment?: My craft is inspired by nature, organic forms and geometric structures. It is deeply connected to my place of origin, Crete, and to where I currently live, Messolonghi. My work acts as a bridge between these two places by capturing the dynamics of wood as a natural material, shaped by local conditions and elements of nature.
How are these places depicted in your work?: The island of Crete has a rich tradition in woodcarving and the processing of natural materials influenced by Minoan culture, Byzantine tradition and folk art. Forms such as sea sponges, fossils and flora or elaborate trunks of olive trees are reflected in my works. The lagoon of Messolonghi and the landscape are reflected in the perforated patterns and structures of my wood sculptures.

Lefteris Karelis is a rising star: he began his career in 2020 and he started teaching in 2023