New Media Artist and Technologist
Objective & Bio
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How does the relationship between technology and perception influence our comprehension of reality? How does the integration of technology into daily life alter human behavior and social dynamics? Can technology be a mirror to human behavior, revealing underlying patterns and tendencies that might otherwise go unnoticed?
Steve Zafeiriou (b. 1998, Thessaloniki, GR) is a New Media Artist, Technologist, and Founder of Saphire Labs. His practice investigates how technology can influence, shape, and occasionally distort the ways individuals perceive the external world. By employing generative algorithms, electronic circuits, and interactive installations, he examines human behavior in relation to the illusory qualities of perceived reality, inviting observers to reconsider their assumptions and interpretations.
Real-time data streams and human input constitute the core of his creative process, enabling each artwork to evolve continuously in response to participant engagement. Through the application of generative algorithms and other digital techniques, Steve deliberately minimizes direct manual intervention, crafting works that appear autonomous yet remain intimately connected to the viewer’s interactions. This approach draws upon both technological inquiry and artistic methods, challenging conventional understandings of authorship and inviting audiences to confront their own role in shaping the artistic experience.
Central to Steve’s practice is the goal of stimulating critical reflection. By uniting physical and digital worlds, his work calls attention to the limitations of human senses and the manner in which technological systems can alter interpretive frameworks and belief. Each project aims to address questions concerning the authenticity of mediated experiences and the fragility of one’s sense of truth, ultimately encouraging an environment where participants can reexamine their preconceived notions and glimpse alternative perspectives.
When linking art and technology, Steve’s work extends beyond the mere display of data or hardware; instead, it examines the active interface between people and digital constructs. This alignment prompts viewers to revisit the notion of “reality” through a technologically informed lens, encouraging more nuanced interpretations of what may seem familiar or self-evident.
His works are held in public and private collections, including those of the Municipal Public Benefit Enterprises of Kordelio–Evosmos and Ampelokipi–Menemeni, Olympus Minerals SA, Ergocert SA, and J’Adore Club Theatre.
Opinion & philosophical notes
Selected Exhibitions
| 2025 | Dark Tales x Steve ZafeiriOU Art – Literature – Philosophy, Alef Cilento Festival, Cardile, IT |
| Dark Tales x Steve Zafeiriou NFC Summit, Lisbon, PT | |
| The Return, MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, GR | |
| MATAROA Awards (2025), Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Fair, GR | |
| 2024 | British Art Fair (Pivotal: Digitalism), Saatchi Gallery, London, UK |
| MATAROA Awards (2024), Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Fair, GR | |
| 2023 | Culture Tech, HELEXPO International Fair – MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, GR |
| Tension, MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, GR |
Stage Performances
| 2025 | Qualia (2025). Audiovisual Performance with NTH Dance Company (chor: Nadia Koutziampasi), National Theatre of Northern Greece |
| Qualia (2025). Audiovisual Performance with NTH Dance Company (chor: Nadia Koutziampasi), Festival of Young Choreographers, National Theatre of Northern Greece |
Awards
| 2025 | Tezos Blockchain Developer Award |
| 2023 | People’s Choice, Doncaster Art Fair, UK |
Articles & Publications
| 2025 | Staff Writer. Cracks in the Code. Critical Playground. |
| Shebanova, N. A. Art and artificial intelligence: Collaboration or confrontation? Courier of Kutafin Moscow State Law University, 1(4), 152–159. | |
| Ntourou, V. Aspects of digital art in visual creation (Master’s thesis, Hellenic Open University). Apothesis Institutional Repository. | |
| 2024 | Christofilopoulos, E. Envisioning Futures Together. Journal of Futures Studies. |
| 2023 | Thessalonikeon Polis (Issue 85, ISSN: 1108-5452). Cultural Society of Northern Greece. Featured discussion of Steve Zafeiriou’s artistic expression and contribution to new contemporary forms. |
