Artist and Actor Billy Zane Honored at Thessaloniki Art Fair

Greek-American actor Billy Zane, who has also become an accomplished artist over the last 25 years, was recently recognized for his work at the fourth Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair.

Zane describes his work as abstract expressionism, and spoke about how he picked it up as a creative hobby while pursuing an acting career.

“I recognized my passion for painting about 25 years ago and started painting while waiting for auditions,” Zane says. In fact, Zane doesn’t see a big divide between his work on camera and his work on canvas. As he says, he is “now familiar with the movement of the brush as well as of the body. It is an extension of [his] character, this kinetic painting.”

Twenty Greek galleries and eighteen international galleries participated in the Thessaloniki art fair, which lasted from Thursday, November 21, to Sunday, November 24.

Born Vassilis Tzanetakos, Zane often speaks proudly about his Greek heritage, so the honor at Thessaloniki was very warmly received by the actor. He is currently working as both a producer and actor on “Waltzing with Brando”, a movie about legendary American actor Marlon Brando.