Billy Gee (1978) - Champs Elysée - in Contrast

Artist name: Billy Gee

Nationality: Greek

Date of birth: 1978, Athens, Greece

Title of the work: Champs Elysée - in Contrast

Year: 2025
Technique: Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

Canvas: 73 cm x 180 cm

Framing: yes, American box

Details of the signature:
Hand-signed by the artist, on the back of the work

Edition:
Unique artwork (no numbering, original piece).

Provenance:
Artwork directly from the artist's studio, Billy Gee. The work is for sale with a certificate of authenticity issued by the agency representing the artist, MP ARTS AGENCY.

Documentation:
Certificate of authenticity issued by MP ARTS AGENCY.

Condition:
The artwork is in perfect condition, with no notable imperfections.

Delivery:
The work will be shipped from Greece, carefully packed and insured. It will be sent unframed (rolled). Delivery with insurance.

About the artist:

Vasilis Griparis, known as Billy Gee (or Billy G), is a street artist based in Athens whose practice is deeply rooted in graffiti culture and the raw energy of the urban environment.

From a strong and respected graffiti background, he is part of the generation that helped shape the contemporary Athens street art scene. He is also one of the founding members of the legendary Athens graffiti crew UDK, a collective that has played a major role in defining the visual identity of the city walls since the late 1990s.

Originally a skater, Billy Gee grew up immersed in street culture, where skate, graffiti, and music formed a natural creative ecosystem. Traveling across Europe for skate competitions, he was constantly exposed to new urban landscapes and graphic styles, enriching his visual vocabulary and strengthening his bond with the international street culture.

Concurrently, he contributed to skate magazines and penned a weekly column for Athens Voice, asserting his active presence in the urban scene.

With training in graphic arts and realistic design, his work stands out for powerful compositions, vibrant color palettes, and highly detailed imagery. His graffiti roots remain visible in his approach: movement, spontaneity, and visual impact occupy a central place in his artistic language.

For Billy Gee, creating is an ongoing process; his works express a constant need to imagine and produce, while leaving room for everyone to interpret them in their own way.

Over the years, he has built a solid track record of exhibitions in Greece and Europe.

Among his solo shows are "Life Extension" at Alibi Art Gallery (Athens, 2021), and "I Put Myself on Display for You" at Maquis-Art Gallery (2018–2019).

He has also participated in major group exhibitions and art fairs such as Art Athina, Roma Arte in Nuvola, Néocratia" at the Achat Art Gallery (Paris, 2021), and Expo Mister Freeze. His work has also been presented at sales and exhibitions in Paris, notably with Cornette de Saint Cyr.

Early in his career, his works were shown in major cultural venues in Athens, such as Technopolis City of Athens and the Onassis Cultural Centre, evidencing his enduring presence in the urban art scene.

Influenced by graffiti, skateboarding and years of travel, Billy Gee's work sits at the crossroads of realism and street expression. His path from the city walls with UDK to galleries and international fairs illustrates the evolution of a true urban artist, still deeply faithful to his roots.

instagram @billy_gee