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 crate

Signature details:
Hand-signed by the artist on the back of the work

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

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

Documentation:
Authenticity certificate issued by MP ARTS AGENCY.

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

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

About the artist:

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

Coming 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 helped define the visual identity of the city walls since the late 1990s.

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

Simultaneously, he contributed to skate magazines and wrote a weekly column for Athens Voice, affirming 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 images. His graffiti roots remain visible in his approach: movement, spontaneity, and visual impact are central to his artistic language.

For Billy Gee, creation is a continuous process; his works express a constant need to imagine and produce, while leaving room for each person 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 exhibitions are "Life Extension" at Alibi Art Gallery (Athens, 2021), as well as "I expose myself to 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 Achetez de l’Art gallery (Paris, 2021), and Expo Mister Freeze. His work has also been shown during sales and exhibitions in Paris, notably with Cornette de Saint Cyr.

Early in his career, his works were exhibited in major cultural venues in Athens, such as Technopolis City of Athens and the Onassis Cultural Centre, demonstrating his lasting 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 journey from the city walls with UDK to galleries and international fairs illustrates the evolution of a true urban artist, still deeply faithful to his origins.

instagram @billy_gee