Michael Kountouris | Cartoonist – Children’s books Illustrator
Born in Rhodes in 1960. Since 1985 he has been working as an editorial cartoonist in Greek newspapers and has been cooperating with magazines. He currently works at the ELEFTHEROS TYPOS newspaper.
Since 2005 he has been cooperating with COURRIER INTERNATIONAL. Since 2006 he is member of the CAGLECARTOONS.INC.
He has participated in many exhibitions in Greece and abroad and has been awarded with:
- the First Prize at the Ranan Lurie UN Political Cartoon Award 2008
- the Grand Prix at the 7th Biennial of Tehran, Iran 2005
- the Gran Premio Internationale Scacchiera, at the Umoristi a Marostica, Italy (2005)
- the Grand Prix (CURUXA 2005) at the Exhibition of the Fene Humor Museum, La Coruna-Spain
- the First Prize (Golden Hat) at the International Cartoon Exhibition of Knokke-Heist, Belgium-2003
- the First Prize at the 8th Biennial of Tehran, Iran 2007
- the First Prize First Prize at the International Internet Contest by Irancartoon, 2008
- the Second Prize at the 19th international contest at Trento, Italy 2008
- the Second Prize at the EUROHUMOR 2003 (International Biennial Cartoon Exhibition), Italy
- the Third Prize at the VI PortoCartoon World Festival, Portugal 2004,
- the Third Prize at the International Cartoon contest in Boechut, Belgium, 2005
- the Third Prize at the World Press Cartoon 2006, Sintra-Portugal
- the Special Prize of the Jury at the Gallarate International Cartoon Contest, Italy 2008
- Honorable mention at the Lurie – UN Political Cartoon Award 2006
- Honourable Mention, Editorial Cartoon section, World Press Cartoon – Sintra 2008
Also, he has been awarded with :
- the Award of the European Union at the EUROKARTOENALE 2003, Kruishoutem, Belgium,
- the FECO Prize at the EUROKARTOENALE 2005 Kruishoutem, Belgium,
- the Special Prize at the 10th Zemun International Salon of Caricature, Serbia, 2005,
- the Special prize at the 5th International Contest of Tabriz Cartoon, Iran, 2006,
- the Ranan Lurie – UN Political Cartoon Award 2006 (Honorable mention)
- 2nd Rhodes Cartoon Biennial, Rhodes-Greece 2004 (Honorable mention)
- International Cartoon Contest “Occupation”, Irancartoon, 2006 (Honorable mention)
- 15th Netherlands Cartoon Festival, 2007 (Honorable mention)
During his career as a children’s books illustrator he has illustrated books by the most important Greek authors as well as his own books. He has been awarded twice: with the Illustration Prize of IBBY Greece 2002 and with the First Design and Illustration Prize, EBGE 2006.
He is a regular member of the Athens Journalists Union since 1993 as well as founding member and secretary of the Greek Cartoonists Association.
