Steve Stratis
Steve Stratis, award-winning designer and entrepreneur, brought the blue to the Artist Space Gallery’s recent Blue Art Exhibition with his mesmerizing pieces ‘Liquescent’ and ‘Tides of Blu.’ Through these abstract blue sculptures, he transcended traditional boundaries of artistic expression, inviting viewers to explore their own emotions and interpretations.
A prolific artist, Stratis is also an award-winning composer and conductor, and is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships from institutions including the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, the University of Pennsylvania, and the New England Conservatory. His creative work engages questions of memory, cultural identity, and art as social testimony, as well as the rich possibilities engendered by collaborations between arts and sciences. He has collaborated with renowned performers and ensembles including The Crossing Choir, the PRISM and Stockholm saxophone quartets, harpsichordist Paul Hillier, the Harry Partch ensemble, recorder virtuoso Tosiya Suzuki, and Noh actress Ryoko Ayoki.
He has also founded music series across the East Coast, showcasing avant-garde artists from all disciplines. Most recently, he created the Pentiment series in Philadelphia, PA and Noise Night, a free-improvisation session in Boston, MA. His recorded works include a piano duo exploration of Ellington with pianist Utsav Lal and the collaborative albums Ponticular on NotArt Records and Yarrow on Biophilia.
Stratis’s passion and expertise has been recognized with numerous accolades and awards throughout her career. Most notably, she was named the Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Champion in 2021. Outside of the world of professional wrestling, Stratus has done extensive charity work and has made numerous appearances on award and television shows. She is also a well-known yoga instructor and has appeared on many magazine covers.
She is survived by her husband, Steve; children Vicky (Scott) and Sophie (Giuseppe); grandchildren Michael and Gabrielle; great-grandchildren Hazel and Levi; her sister, Eleni; brothers George and Nick; and several nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 23rd at Heritage Funeral Centre, 50 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, ON M4H 1B6, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Scarborough, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in her name. To leave a message of condolence, please visit the online tribute page.