About me
About me
Handmade Mosaics by Maria Kumanova
Maria Kumanova has crafted the art of mosaics through 12 years of apprenticeship and work with one of the most iconic iconographers and painters of our time - Manolis Betinakis.
Their collaboration started back in 2004. After extensive studying process she started working on projects in collaboration with Manolis for big churches and monasteries in Greece.
Some of their work can be seen today at 2 major Monasteries (Toplou and Savvathiana) at Crete, Greece and numerous churches (Agia Varvara) and private collections across Europe and United States.
2015 two mosaics were exhibited during Manolis’ exhibition “The Divine Images” also known as “Those icons made without hands” at St. Petersburg’s Smolny Cathedral.
In the beginning of 2016 her mosaics were also exhibited at Municipal Art Gallery Crete, Greece.
After Manolis past away in 2015 (only two days after the start of the exhibition), Maria moved back to Bulgaria and put the foundations of her own atelier with main focus on handmade mosaics.
More about my work
More about my work
Available / 2022
size: 78x64cm
St. George killing the Dragon
Available / 2021
Micromosaics - Holy Mary and Jesus Christ
size: 18x11cm
Available / 2020
Holy Mary and Baby Jesus
size: 45x51cm
Available / 2019
Holy Mary and Baby Jesus
size: 45x51cm
Private Collection / 2017
Holy Mary and Jesus Christ
size*: 45x34cm *both mosaics have the same size
SMOLNY Cathedral
St. PETERSBURG, russia / 2012-2015
Saint Mary and baby Jesus / Saint Ioannis (Saint John)
From October 4 to November 15, 2015 St. Petersburg’s St. Isaac’s Cathedral hosted the exhibition of the Greek painter and iconographer Manolis Betinakis.
The exhibition "Divine Images" gives an unique opportunity to Manolis Betinakis collected works from various churches and monasteries in Crete. It consists of 41 works, including photographs, a few paintings and two mosaics created in collaboration with Maria Kumanova.
Projects include an almost 30-year period of the painter creativity. The works are presented in an environment with many illustrations of the island landscape, where most of the temples were painted. This is a story that captures the life and work of painter and accurately presents the unique atmosphere of his homeland.
size*: 170x120cm / *both mosaics have same size
Savvathiana monastery
Crete, Greece / 2008
Saint Mary and baby Jesus and Saint Anthony the Great
Mosaics made by Maria Kumanova in collaboration with Manolis Betinakis. The mosaics were ordered from the Monastery of Savvathiana Crete, Greece.
size: 150x110cm / *both mosaics have same size
Agia Varvara chapel (Crete) / 2007
Jesus Christ and Saint Mary and baby Jesus
size: 120x80cm
Saint Petka chapel (Crete) / 2006
Saint Petka
size: 120x70cm
Private Collection / 2005
size: 180x80cm
size: 30x22cm
*Please excuse us with the poor quality of these two pictures. Made back in 2005 these were the very first mosaics crafted by Maria Kumanova.
“All mosaics until the summer of 2015, have been crafted in collaboration and with the exceptional mentorship of Manolis Betinakis.
Please read more about my teacher and a friend bellow! ”
Manolis Betinakis
Iconographer, painter my mentor and a friend
Manolis Betinakis
Iconographer, painter my mentor and a friend
Despite his illness, in a wheel-chair since his early 20's, Manolis was working 6 to 8 hours everyday helped by an assistant.
Exhibition of Manolis' work at the State Museum Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Me and Manolis summer of 2014
12 years of training, mentorship and friendship with one of the greatest artists of our time Manolis Betinakis.
The person to whom I own my knowledge today.
1946 / Manolis Betinakis was born in Heraklion, Crete.
1962 / Starts apprenticeship in icon painting in the workshop of painter Papa-Giorgis Manousakis.
1965 / He works as an assistant to painter George Philippaki the narration of I. N. g. Dimitrios pistachios.
1969 / Opens own iconography workshop at Heraklion and worked as a freelance iconographer and the church authorities.
1975 / He is awarded the first set of frescos for the Chapel St. John the Hermit Metropolis Ierapytna and Sitia (with assistants Michael Vassilakis and Nicholas Cretan).
1975-1990 / mural sets this year are including in Faneromeni in Pahia Ammos Virgin monastery in retreat Ag. Theodori and Ag. Dimitriou Heraklion in retreat Axion Esti in Ierapetra (with partner Michael Stavroulaki) in I .N. Ag. Georgios and the Church Ag. Nektarios in Heraklion, Poros, in I. N. g. Triada in Roussa Church, in I. N. g. Triada Kavousi and churches of Lower and Upper Village in Ierapetra.
1990-2000 / This period continues to sculpt portable iconostasis icons, including for the Church Annunciation in Sitia, the I. N. ransfiguration Arkalohori in churches in Rhodes and various churches abroad.
2000-2015 / The decade begins dealing with the art of mosaic. Mosaic works of this decade (in collaboration with Maria Kumanova) located on I. N. g. Nicholas in naval Sitia basis, the Monastery of Our Lady Pantanassa, the Monastery of Toplou, the Monastery Savvathiana in Heraklion and in private collections.
As early as 2012 has been a proposal for a retrospective report to St. Isaac St. Petersburg in Russia. The last three years completely dedicated to the realization of creating works especially for the exhibition.
The exhibition took place on October 3, 2015 at the State Museum-Monument Cathedral of St. Isaac in St. Petersburg. He was unable to attend because of the heavy state of health, however spoke to attendees online.
Manolis past away on October 6, 2015, three days after the opening of the exhibition which lasted until November 16, 2015 and received rave reviews. The top, however, is vindication after his death, the project selection for the Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg.
More about the great painter and iconographer here
Manolis with his true friend Ektor at his home Crete, Greece.