biography

childhood and youth

 

Born 19th july 1984 to an European family shaped by social, political and religious free thinkers as well as traditionalists. Son of the academic painter Helmuth Gräff and Martina Maria Elisabeth Gräff (neé Gach), former highschool-professor of arts. The family lived at several places in Lower Austria and Vienna. His paternal ancestors belonged to a branch of the Dutch noble Graeff family, which played an important role as republican-minded regents, patricians and patrons of the arts during the Dutch Golden Age (17th century).

Between 2002 and 2008 Gräff studied art at University of Applied Arts Vienna of Wolfgang Herzigs masterclass of painting

 

Diploma "Weltaussenschu-Weltinnenschau" at the University of Applied Arts/Vienna  ^^^

academic painter, private historian, political activist & politician, organizor

 

During the 64th yearly fair of St. Pöltens Künstlerbund (art union) Gräff received the "Adolf Peschek Preis" (Adolf Peschek Public Award) in the Museum of the City of St. Pölten

In 2012 Gräff created the vine etiquette of Red Cross in Lower Austria. Presentation with Gräff (2nd left) Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the austrian Parliament (3rd left), Willi Sauer, president of the Red Cross Lower Austria (2nd right)

In 2013 Georgia Kazantzidu together with Gräff organized the concert of the famous Mojo Blues Band in his hometown Gars am Kamp 

2013, town twinning Gars am Kamp - Gars am Inn On the accasion of the celebration of the sister city Gars am Inn Gräff created the twin city painting  ^^^ 

In 2014 Gräff received from mayor's bureau the contract to create the vine etiquettes "Garser Wein 2014". A local businessman boycott the publishing of the etiquettes about the illustration of a half naked woman, and this led to a little media scandal  ^^^

In the same year Organisation of a worldwide Graeff-family Reunion meeting on the occasion of "530 years Graeff" at the castles Kornberg and Riegersburg and Graz in Styria, Austria

1914 to 2014, "100 years Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg in Sarajewo" at Schloss Artstetten. Gräff, Princess Anita Hohenberg (great-granddaughter of Franz Ferdinand of Austria) and Georgia Kazantzidu ^^^

2014, at the residence of the Greek Ambassadress in Vienna. The Greek Ambassadress in Vienna, Chryssoula Aliferi, Gräff and Georgia Kazantzidu with the painting "Achilleion auf Korfu"

In 2015 Gräff and Georgia Kazantzidu, together with Chryssoula Aliferi, the Greek Ambassadress of Austria, welcome the greek Eurovision Song Contest Singer Maria Kyriakou in the Greek Embassy in Vienna ^^^

In 2015 artist meeting with Nick Simper, founding member of Deep Purple, in Vienna ^^^

In 2017 artist meeting with Don Airey, keyboardplayer of Deep Purple ^^^

In the same year benefit-exhibition in favor of Polyneuropathie at WUK, Vienna. Opening by Werner Groiß, member of the Austrian Parliament and Bernhard Görg, former Vice-Governor of Vienna ^^^

Since 2017 Gräffs political and social critiqual paintings become published by national and international and as well national magacines, blogs and books and by political researchers [as of march 2025 in over 155 publications] ^^^

In 2018 "Deep Purple - Art and History - The exhibition". Celebrating 50 years of Deep Purple, Kunsthalle Köln-Lindenthal (Cologne, Germany) Group exhibition with Roger Glover, bass player of Deep Purple ^^^ Gräffs drawing of the band served as an invitation to the exhibition during Deep Purples European tour ^^^

In 2019 invitation from Stefan Egger, Federal Managing Director of the Austrian political party NEOS in Vienna. Topics where:

* Europe discussion at Gräffs studio

* A special art project between Gräff and NEOS, "United States of Europe"

In the same year foundation of the "Dialogue in Kamptal", a non-partisan platform for dialogue and participation in the tradition of a salon of the 18th and 19th century in the Studio Gräff & House Kazantzidu with politics and diplomats [Initiative Georgia Kazantzidu] ^^^

Matthias Laurenz Gräff and Karl von Habsburg - historical HIH Archduke Karl of Austria, chief of the former imperial house of Austria, historical legacy of Roman majesty and the Austrian Empire - in front of a variant of the Graeff coat of arms at his home ^^^

"Good politics must put people first"

(Gute Politik muss den Menschen in den Mittelpunkt stellen)

 

Political participation with NEOS as community spokesman for Gars am Kamp since the beginning of 2022, as a candidate for the state elections of Lower Austria in 2023, [Waldviertel] as candidate on the state list and top candidate constituency district Horn ^^^

On the occasion of the 125th birthday of the german novelist and pacifist Erich Maria Remarque, the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center Osnabrück put on two exhibitions: "Networking Remarque"and "Ein Geschenk für Remarque". Participation with the large-format oil painting "Der Weg zurück", which also adorns the invitation to the exhibitions, and will then be transferred to the museum's inventory. The painting also was used for a book cover and as content for another book

Matthias Laurenz Gräff took over the role of representative for Greece for the Austrian (government and) parliamentary party NEOS on march 25, 2024. He represents NEOS in Greece both internally and externally. In addition to representing austrians abroad, this function also includes establishing contacts and cooperation with liberal greek parties ^^^

Since 2024, the family association Gräff-Graeff (Familienverband Gräff-Graeff e. V.) in person of chairman Matthias Laurenz Gräff has been awarding recognition to people with the Letter of honor who have made a contribution to cultural life ^^^

On february 3, 2025, Gräff took over as representative for the whole of Cyprus for the governing party and parliamentary party NEOS (the Republic of Cyprus and the unlawful Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). ^^^