Christos FaranTatos
Christos Farantatos’ enormous body of work represents a plethora of collective memories which embodies the spiritual manifestation of his Baptist upbringing from childhood to the present. His signature, Tatos, is a derivative from his Greek name Farantatos, which is an intentional inclusion in every piece of work. This is a representation of his Greek heritage. RISE, “Resist Illiteracy Support Education”, is represented by the “Genesis Man” and has always played an important role in his works and exhibits, highlighting his primary focus on addressing illiteracy and violence in black communities. The “Genesis Man” relates back to the 70’s when young Tatos expressed his art via graffiti, utilizing the New York City Subways and public places as his canvas where he always stamped his work with the “Genesis Man” and his initials CF.
Born in 1961 during the civil rights movement, being the son of a Black mother and a Greek father, Tatos was constantly reminded of racial injustices and violence that he was being sheltered from by his parents. His parents moved him to rural Alabama to live with his maternal grandparents on their farm. It was there, that he learned about spirituality and living off the land. Both factors have not only been the foundation for his growth and sustenance, but especially for his art. The inspiration for his intricate and abstract artwork comes from his grandmother, Nelly Speidel, who he watched crocheting large intricate patterns which she would then sew together to make blankets, tablecloths, and other household necessities.
Tatos moved back to Harlem in the 70s with his mom, where he attended grammar school at PS 175. Unbeknownst to him, it was there that he would meet the next in line who would encourage, inspire and influence him to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. She was his flamboyant and brilliant teacher, Mrs. Tobert, who ruled her classroom with an ‘Iron Fist.’ It was Mrs. Tobert who first introduced Tatos to Picasso, Van Gogh and Rodin, along with the literary works of James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was during those two formative years in her fifth and sixth grade classrooms, that the foundation was established which was to transform Tatos into the artist that he is today.
Tatos later moved to Hell’s kitchen in the 80’s and started to pursue his artistic vision through oil, enamel, collages and photographs. He was known amongst his colleagues, on the art scene, as the “Black Greek”. Tatos’ art exploded at salon settings, top billing venues all over NYC which included Green Street Gallery in Soho, Fun Gallery Shows in Greenwich Village, and the Time Square Art Shows.
In the 1990’s, as the New York City art arena grew northward and beyond the Hudson Valley, Tatos began showing his work at The Nelson Macker Fine Art Gallery in Port Chester, Connecticut. Tatos, who now resides in Westchester, is making a resurgence in the art world with his distinctive style, which is inspired by, and pays homage to social injustice and the plight of African American culture.