Matthias Laurenz Gräff

Matthias Laurenz Gräff (also known as Matthias Laurenz Gräff Ilpenstein;Deutsche Fotothek (ger) born 19 July 1984) is an Austrian-greekHephaestus Wien.  „NEOS X – International vertreten Österreicher in Griechenland“ – Gräff wird NEOS-Repräsentant für Griechenland painter, historian, politician and political activist.

 Background 
Matthias Laurenz Gräff is the son of the artist Helmuth Gräff and the art professor Martina Maria Elisabeth Gräff,Ραδιοφωνική συνέντευξη: POETS Radio. Irene Gavala, Exclusive interview | Matthias Laurenz Graeff | Ζωγραφίζοντας., 2018 (greek) daughter of the architect Richard Gach. His paternal ancestors were politically active and religious free thinkers with their own coat of armsMagazin "Schaufenster" der Kultur.Region Niederösterreich, Ausgabe I, 2022: "Eine Familien-Ausstellung" p 12-15; p 14  who belonged to the Dutch De Graeff family.Helmuth Gräff im austria-forum In 2013 Matthias Laurenz Gräff became a co-founder and chairman of the worldwide Family Association Gräff-Graeff ("Familienverband Gräff-Graeff e.V."). The family association serves to research and bring together the noble and patrician families Graeff, who are natural descendants of the Austrian nobleman Wolfgang von Graben († 1521). He lives in a partnership with the Greek-born born Georgia Kazantzidu. They lives in Gars am Kamp, Austria and Platamonas, Greece.

 Works 
Matthias Laurenz Gräff studied art at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and get his master's degree in 2008.Universität für Angewandte Kunst, Bildarchiv zu Studienschlussarbeiten   Gräff paints still lifes, pieces of flowers, interiors, landscapes, architecture, allegories, nudes, compositions, historical themes.Lions Club. Löwen los. Matthias Laurenz Gräff His political paintings are published by national and international books, magazines and blogs.Universität Osnabrück, Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum (niem., ang.)

In 2010 he received the "Adolf Peschek Preis" (Adolf Peschek Public Award) in the Museum of the City of St. Pölten.St Pöltner Künstlerbund ; accessed 7 August 2015.  In 2012 Gräff created the painting for the vine etiquette of the Red Cross in Lower Austria.Newspaper article: NÖN, Etikette hilft Kinderburg ; accessed 7 August 2015.  In 2013 Gräff created the officiel twin city painting for Gars am Inn (Germany)."Wilde Ehe" nach 50 Jahren legalisiert (Bayern, Deutschland) (in German) ; accessed 7 August 2015.Newspaper article: NÖN, Es lebe unsere Freundschaft! ; accessed 7 August 2015.  In 2014, he received a contract to create three paintings for the vine etiquettes "Garser Wein 2014".Newspaper article: NÖN, "Garser" muss weg!;  accessed 7 August 2015. Newspaper article: NÖN, Allen Menschen recht getan ... Column of Rupert Kornell ; accessed 7 August 2015.  A local businessman boycott the publishing of the etiquettes about the illustration of Georgia Kazantzidu as a half naked woman. This led to a little media scandal in Austria.Newspaper article: NÖN, "Streit um nackte Muse auf Weinetikett" ; accessed 7 August 2015. Matthias Laurenz Gräff, Press 2014-2018, "Kunstzensur des Garser Weines 2014" ; accessed 7 August 2015. 

In his paintings, Gräff also deals with literary themes, including the implementation of the content of the writer Erich Maria Remarque. He participated in large memorial exhibitions in the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center in Osnabrück.Friedensstadt Osnabrück. „Networking Remarque“ und „Ein Geschenk für Remarque“: Zwei Ausstellungen zum 125. Geburtstag des Schriftstellerswww.presse-service.de „Networking Remarque“ und „Ein Geschenk für Remarque“: Zwei Ausstellungen zum 125. Geburtstag des SchriftstellersHasepost: Ein Geschenk für zum 125. Geburtstag: Neue Ausstellungen ehren Osnabrücker Schriftsteller Erich Maria Remarque The museum also features paintings by Gräff.Universität Osnabrück, Erich Maria Remarque-FriedenszentrumErich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum. 125. Geburtstag Erich Maria Remarques am 22. Juni 2023www.meinbezirk.at, "Weltweit Worldwide Remarque" in Osnabrück (De) mit Künstler Matthias Laurenz GräffGefragter Niederösterreichische Nachrichten, Künstler. Zweites Gräff-Bild für Friedenszentrumwww.meinbezirk.at, Auf den Spuren von Erich Maria Remarque. Gräff auf internationaler SonderausstellungNeue Osnabrücker Zeitung. Remarques Geburtstag: Erste Geschenke sind in Osnabrück eingetroffen His painting “Der Weg zurück” serves as the book cover of “Das Wunderbare, die Idylle und der Krieg: Aufsätze zu Erich Maria Remarque und zur Lyrik des Ersten Weltkriegs”, published by the University of Osnabrück / Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center Osnabrück.Das Wunderbare, die Idylle und der Krieg: Aufsätze zu Erich Maria Remarque und zur Lyrik des Ersten Weltkriegs, Alice Cadeddu, Claudia Junk, Thomas F. Schneider, V&R Unipress, 13.11.2023  It is also part of the book Networking Remarque: Zum 125. Geburtstag Erich Maria Remarques again published by the University of Osnabrück / Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center Osnabrück.

 Politics 
 Art and politics 
Matthias Laurenz Gräff has been working on contemporary images of political and social criticism since 2015, which have been published several times in newspapers, blogs and books on national and international politics. Important topics are anti-fascism, socialism, anti-nationalist, pro-European, liberalism and tradition. Gräff deals with national and global issues and personalities. He also deals with socio-political issues and critical processes in Austrian society and politics.

In relation of the 2019 European Parliament election, Gräff created a pro-European painting in collaboration with the Austrian party NEOS.Austrian newspaper article: NÖN, Gräff-Atelier empfängt zu „Europa-Dialog“ im Kamptal

The Erich Maria Remarque-Friedenszentrum (University of Osnabrück) wrote about Gräff: He consistently represents humanistic, anti-nationalist and pro-European positions both in his art and in various exchange and discussion programs organized by him.

 Dialog im Kamptal 

Matthias Laurenz Gräff organizes the non-partisan political and diplomatic platform Dialog im Kamptal (Dialogue in Kamptal) with his girlfriend Georgia Kazantzidu in his art studio in Gars am Kamp.NOEGVV. KI Magazin. Kommunale Information des Verbands sozialdemokratischer GemeindevertreterInnen in NÖ, Nummer 01/2023: „GEORGIA KANN MAN NICHT IN IRGENDEINE SCHUBLADE STECKEN“ (p 18/19)  Erhard Busek, Wolfgang Brandstetter, Karin Kneissl, Karl von Habsburg, Wolfgang Petritsch and Hannes Swoboda where just some of the renowned speakers.Dialog im Kamptal (ger)

 Politician 
Matthias Laurenz Gräff has been politically active as a community representative in Gars am Kamp for the Austrian liberal parliamentary NEOS party since 2022.NEOS, Niederösterreich, Gars am Kamp   He was also a candidate for the Lower Austrian state elections in 2023,Newspaper article NÖN. "Mitgliederversammlung. Indra Collini führt NEOS wieder als Spitzenkandidatin in Landtagswahl"  and here as a candidate for the Waldviertel regionNewspaper article NÖN Horn. Interview mit Gräff: „Mensch muss im Mittelpunkt stehen!“  and as a top candidate for the Horn district.Newspaper article Bezirksblätter Horn. NEOS fixieren Wahlkreislistenersten für Horn Newspaper article NÖN Horn. Auch pinke Liste im Bezirk Horn ist jetzt fix 

In March 2024 Matthias Laurenz Gräff took over the role of official Representative for Greece for the parliamentary party NEOS. The state representatives are part of the state organization NEOS X - International, in which politics is made by and for Austrians abroad. Gräff represents NEOS in Greece both internally and externally. In addition to representing Austrians abroad, this function also includes establishing contacts and cooperation with liberal Greek parties.NEOS. NEOS X - International. RepresentativesNEOS Representatives, Matthias Laurenz Gräff, Rep GriechenlandNÖN: "Garser Matthias Gräff ist der NEOS-Mann für Griechenland"

References

Other websites

 Official website (in German, English, Greek)
 Matthias Laurenz Gräff. Political and social criticism paintings (in English)
 Profile, basis-wien.at; accessed 7 August 2015. 
 Profile, artfacts.net; accessed 22 September 2015. 
 Matthias Laurenz Gräff profile, kulturvernetzung.at; accessed 7 August 2015. 
 POETS Radio. Irene Gavala, Exclusive interview | Matthias Laurenz Graeff | Ζωγραφίζοντας., 2018
 Universität Wien. Univ-Doz. Dr. Friedrich Polleroß: Gemälde von Matthias Laurenz Gräff im Museum in Neupölla ; accessed 7 August 2015. 

Category:1984 births
Category:Living people
Category:Austrian painters
Category:Austrian historians
Category:People from Lower Austria