CURRICULUM VITAE
DELLA ROUNICK
Della Rounick was born in Neapoli, Kozani – Greece and grew up in Veria – Greece, where she graduated from a local girl’s High School.
She lived and worked consequently in Veria – Greece, in Toulouse – France, Johannesburg South- Africa, Manhattan – New York, Athens – Greece and then again Manhattan – New York, Southampton – New York, Hong – Kong, Acapulco – Mexico, Palm Beach – Florida, Athens, Mykonos – Greece.
She studied French Philology and Philosophy at the University of Toulouse in France (Faculte des lettres et sciences humaines).
She worked as a model in Johannesburg – South Africa, with Stella Grove, Wilhelmina in New York, and Christi models in Athens.
She moved to NY in 1985 and lived in Manhattan at the Condominium of MOMA for 20 years.
During the years 1989 to 1997 she designed first the line DORE by Della Roufogali and then the very successful line of evening dresses in New York Niteline by Della Roufogali, a subsidiary of the HeRo Group.
In 1994 she became CEO and then Chairman of The HeRo Group which was listed in the New York Stock Exchange until end of 1997.
The HeRo Group’s clothes were manufactured in China and she made trips – for over 12 years – to Hong-Kong and Shanghai twice a year, and sometimes in India to oversee the label’s productions.
From 1989 as well until 1992 Della studied painting and again in 1999 at the Art Students League in New York with Bruce Dorfman, Richard Poussette – Dart, William Scharf, Thomas Fogarty, Leo Manso and Knox Martin.
In 1993 and 1994 she also attended the winter classes of Isabelle O’Neil Foundation Faux Finishes, in Palm Beach Florida.
Besides her artistic endeavors, she was a member of the Steering Committee for The Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala for 17 consecutive years, as well as Chairman of The Athens Ball in NY for the American College in Greece for another six years.
She was a benefactor of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, the Gabrielle Angel Leukemia Foundation for Cancer Research, and a Chairman for a fundraising event in New York for the Gennadios Library of Athens. Together with her late husband, Herbert Rounick, they were for several years patrons of the MET.
On May 8, 1997, she had her first exhibition of paintings at the New World Art Center in Soho, New York. All the proceeds went to benefit AMFAR Aids research.
In 2005, Della returned to Greece where she worked in arts and crafts at her Mykonos studio. It was then that she started developing her paintings into sculptures. Visiting NY, 2016 and 2017 with Professor Sculptor Arslan, she began taking sculpting classes at her old school ART Students League and in the summer of 2016, Della presented a series of bronze sculptures in Mykonos called: “Andromeda and Pleaides – Cosmic Prayer”.
That same summer 2016, her work was part of a group show in the Skoufa Gallery in Mykonos and later in the fall, at the same Gallery in Athens.
During the winters of 2017, 2018 and 2019 she took sculpting classes in the Art School of the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi, Athens where she developed a series of sculptures titled: “The unbearable emptiness of absence”, with the assistance of her sculpting teacher Stelios Sarros.
In April 2017, she opened her own gallery Della Rounick Sculptures at Leventi 1, in Kolonaki, Athens. The following month she participated in Art Athina in Athens and that summer her sculptures were installed in public places in Mykonos including Principote Beach, Scorpios Beach, Cavo Tagoo Hotel and Namos Village.
In October 2018, she presented in her own gallery that series of bronze sculpture “The unbearable emptiness of absence”.
In February 2019, she participated with her sculptures at the Exhibition “A jewel made in Greece” in Zappeion Megaron in Athens.
In July 2019, she presented the series of sculptures “Personal Mythology” at the Big White Gallery in Mykonos.
Her sculptures are owned in private collections around the world, including Manhattan – New York, South Hampton – NY, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, Paris, Gstaad, Athens and Mykonos. Having lived in the Museum Towers condominium in New York with MOMA as her neighbor for 20 years, has been a continuous cultural experience and inspiration for Della.
During the years of the pandemic COVID-19, she worked non-stop following the series “Personal Mythology” with a new pop proposal related to her path in the field of fashion. In October 2022, in her Athens Gallery, she presented her new series bronze sculptures and fashion under the name “Afi Yfis” (A touch of feeling).
Currently, she is working on big paintings including:
- Photography from her modelling career
- Paintings acrylic, oil, pencil, and fashion applications from well-known international designers (Vouis Vuitton) and also from well-known designers of the HeRo Group, pret – a – porter, (Oscar de La Renta, Bill Blass, Bob Mackie, Oleg Cassini, Fabrice) and her own designs for Nite line by Della Roufogali.
Her future plans include a selective presentation of all her works, which, although varied, is consistent in its development.
Her three motos for life are:
- Be present at the present.
- Ne te gaspille pas – do not waste yourself.
- Nos actes, nous suive – our actions, follow us.
April, 2023