Before his work ever showed in galleries, before he studied art in Paris, and even before growing his artistic capacity as a high school student at ACS Athens, Halid Elaggan Chrisinas (Class of 2015) found art to be a joyful escape in a sometimes tumultuous childhood during his years in Alexandria, Egypt. 

Upon arriving at ACS Athens in the 9th grade, Halid immersed himself in many of the activities that make the ACS Athens experience stand out for students, including debate, dance, and theater; he was even captain of the varsity tennis team. 

But the aspect that stood out for Halid was how the school fostered young artists and found ways to engage them beyond the traditional academic paths. 

“To have such an artistic culture for a high school is really quite extraordinary,” he shared. 

At ACS Athens, Halid grew his passion for visual arts and was given the freedom to discover it based on his own reflections. Where others might force young artists to adhere to a pre-specified approach, Halid felt empowered not only with the techniques to expand his art, but also to allow his uniqueness to stand out making it a more powerful experience - not only for his artwork, but also as a young man.  

Although empowered and supported, Halid also learned about another, very important aspect of art in the International Baccalaureate visual arts program - organizational skills and time management. 

After graduating from ACS Athens, Halid moved to France to continue growing his education and artistic career.

“After spending my entire life in Greece and Egypt, I decided to move to Paris, the Mecca of the arts in order to draw inspiration from Western contemporary artists,” he explained. “My goal was to bring together the artistic drive that I gained in my home cultures and blend them with the French culture to create something new.”

Thanks to the rigor and independence of the program at ACS Athens, Halid entered the American University of Paris well-prepared and often more advanced than some of his peers. He did a double major in Fine Arts and Psychology, a reflection of his IB experience in a way, and minored in Art History. 

While in university, he was an active member of the community, establishing and leading clubs that brought art to the intersection of experiences, from art history to art therapy for hospitalized children. 

In that way, art came full circle.

He found himself providing comfort to children through art, the very thing that served as an escape for him as a child.

As he was completing his studies, Halid transitioned into the professional world of art by working in art galleries in Paris while also expanding his own work. 

As the Pandemic brought the world to a halt, it offered a tremendous opportunity for Halid, who was particularly prolific and productive.

“Before Covid, I did not feel like I was growing; I felt like I was at rock bottom, but the time spent creating allowed me to find myself,” he admits.

Today, that pivotal transformation is evident as he is continuing to grow his art and his career, including two upcoming art shows:

• A solo exhibition on April 18th in Berlin
• A joint exhibition in Paris in November

Halid has been gracious in supporting ACS Athens through his artwork, as well. In fact, he donated a riveting piece for an upcoming auction to help the school raise money to upgrade the science labs.

Asked to offer advice to artists just starting their careers, Halid encourages experiences working in art galleries to learn the field from various perspectives, not just creation. It is important that a young artist choose the gallery and gallerist they work with carefully as this is one of the most influential relationships to foster in developing one’s career.

“A gallerist can be your biggest advocate and ally,” Halid shares. “They can build your reputation, boost your marketability - even help secure clients and sales, so you need to make sure that you find the match that is right for you as a person and artist.”

Halid Elaggan Chrisinas will be one of the panelists at the 2nd ACS Athens Global Alumni Insights Session on March 27, 2024.

We invite all alumni to attend the event and join the small networking reception afterward. This unique opportunity allows students to connect with and learn from alumni, fostering a community beyond the panel discussion.