Tell us about your creative journey. Which achievements do you hold closest to your heart?
My artistic journey began during my school years. I remember asking my mother, before we painted our house, to let me express myself by painting on the walls.
From my years at the Athens School of Fine Arts, studying alongside Mytaras, to designing the Olympic Medals, I treasure every joyful moment this journey has given me. I love collecting these small and significant moments and translating them into my designs. At the end of the day, every achievement is a stepping stone that has brought me to where I am today. And where I am today is a beautiful place.
You have developed a distinctive signature style that celebrates the handmade. How did you achieve this, and where do you find your inspiration?
I believe it all began with my desire, from a very young age, to create what I couldn’t find. As a student, I loved collecting pebbles on Hydra and transforming them into rings. I always felt the need to create, to experiment, to explore new forms and materials. Combined with the encouragement of Mytaras, this led me to approach jewelry as a work of art—handcrafted, one of a kind, and deeply personal.
After so many years of an extraordinary career, which pieces do you consider your most iconic, and how do you most enjoy seeing them worn?
I believe ELENA VOTSI is best known for its rings and their bold sculptural forms. It’s wonderful when I meet women who tell me they are recognized by the rings they wear. Many started with smaller, more understated pieces, and now they can’t imagine wearing anything less expressive.
It also brings me great joy when clients make a stop in Hydra or Athens before continuing their travels, simply to choose an ELENA VOTSI jewel. And I must admit, it’s the greatest compliment when they tell me, “Someone stopped me in Paris, New York, at the airport, or even in an elevator just to photograph my hands.” It’s deeply moving to see a piece of jewelry become part of a woman’s identity.
What have been the brightest moments of your career?
Every moment that has helped me grow as a creator has been a bright one. International collaborations have certainly brought their own light and offered experiences that are impossible to overlook. The meetings, photoshoots, travels, and the people I’ve met along the way have all expanded my horizons and taken me beyond the routine of everyday life. Many of those moments, however, I choose to keep private, shared only with my collaborators.
What I can share without hesitation is the experience of designing the Olympic medal and witnessing the Games that followed. From 2004 until today, every time I see the face of the medal bearing my design, I feel the same sense of pride. It remains the defining milestone of my career—not only as an artist, but also as a Greek.
What does the exhibition in Hydra include, and how does your participation contribute to its narrative?
It is a very special occasion to be able to exhibit my work at the Tetsis House. Although Tetsis was not my professor at the Athens School of Fine Arts, our shared connection to Hydra became a meaningful bond, both during and beyond my years at the school.
For this reason, the central theme of my participation is the Heart—a body of work I first began as a student at the School of Fine Arts, continued to develop during my postgraduate studies in London, and one that has remained at the core of my practice ever since. Hearts in metal and glass, arrows moving in different directions, and a continuous exploration of freedom in emotion and expression.
What does art mean to you, and how has your life on Greece’s most beautiful island influenced your work?
Art is the journey of my life. I design because it is how I express myself, who I am, and what gives me the joy of getting out of bed every morning. Whether I am creating for our own collections, for a maison, a museum, an exhibition, or a private commission, I love giving form to an idea and transforming it into something alive.
Hydra has always been my anchor. To me, it is home. On this island, art seems to flow through every narrow street, every stone bench, and every courtyard. Whenever I am there, every walk feels like stepping into a painting filled with beauty and simplicity.
What does the next chapter hold? Can you tell us about your new collection and your upcoming plans?
The next chapter begins with a new space in Athens, which will open just before the end of the year. At the same time, I have several international trips planned for the private projects I have the privilege of creating.
I especially enjoy designing for organizations and companies seeking something truly unique. To be honest, I love these commissions even more because they happen away from the spotlight. I’ve always been drawn to quiet journeys and collaborations with people whose stature speaks for itself—people who never need to raise their voice to be heard.
What is the best way to style your jewelry?
The simpler, the better. A flowing dress, a pair of sandals, and hands adorned with rings.
Fashion vs. Design. Which holds a stronger place in your heart?
When it comes to jewelry, design always comes first. It is what makes a piece timeless and distinctive. Trends are fleeting, and I have never been interested in following them. I prefer creating jewelry that tells a story, that has meaning and a clear concept—pieces that will endure and remain relevant regardless of time.
Tell us about the collaborations that have shaped your career. How have they evolved over the years?
One of my earliest collaborations, which I remember with great affection, was with the Zolotas Gold Workshop alongside Mrs. Papastamou. This was followed by three years with Gucci, working alongside Tom Ford, collaborations with the National Gallery—which holds a special place in my heart, as Marina Lambraki-Plaka was one of my professors at the Athens School of Fine Arts—the Museum of Cycladic Art, the Acropolis Museum, and a long-standing collaboration with Ralph Lauren.
I also designed the Medal of the Republic for the Municipality of Athens, as well as the commemorative medal marking the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence for the National Historical Museum. In recent years, ELENA VOTSI has collaborated extensively with international companies, creating bespoke corporate gifts, awards, and private jewelry collections. Every collaboration brings together new ideas and experiences, continuously enriching our work and reminding us that creativity knows no borders.
What would be your dream project?
I have a personal rule: I never talk about dream projects until they become reality. But yes… I am working on something.
Tell us a story you’ll never forget.
I’ll never forget calling the Royal College of Art to find out whether I had been accepted into the Master’s programme. I had to ask twice to make sure I had heard correctly.
The second unforgettable phone call came years later. One morning, my doctor called to tell me I was pregnant with my son, Nikolas. That very same afternoon, Mrs. Gianna Angelopoulos called to tell me that my design had been selected for the Olympic medal. Those two moments will stay with me forever.
What do you love most about Hydra, and what would you recommend to someone visiting for the first time?
I love Hydra’s rocks—their colour, their shape, their texture. I have always been drawn to the island’s distinctive shades of grey: its stone, its stairways, its walls. To anyone visiting for the first time, I would simply say: let yourself wander. Walk through the narrow alleys, climb higher, explore the hidden corners of the town without worrying about getting lost. Every path on Hydra eventually leads back to the harbour.
An exhibition you’ll never forget?
Odysseys, at the Archaeological Museum.
Three places you always return to—and why?
Hydra, Paris and India.
Hydra is the most beautiful part of my life. Paris is a story that feels unfinished and continues to draw me back. India has the most extraordinary colours I have ever seen.
What is your definition of beauty?
Beauty is whatever takes your breath away. Something you wish you could carry with you forever—a landscape, a work of art, a face, a piece of jewelry. It is whatever fills your soul with wonder.
What does authenticity mean to you today?
Authenticity is something born from knowledge, experience and a personal point of view—not from imitation.
If you were to create something for TheAuthentics.gr, what would it be?
A silk scarf inspired by the essence of your philosophy.
A fragile heart of glass, created by Elena Votsi exclusively for the 10 Years Without Tetsis exhibition organised by the National Historical Museum, will be presented at Panayiotis Tetsis’ former home and studio in Hydra from 20 July to 4 August 2026, honouring the enduring legacy of the artist.
