John Christoforou was born in London in 1921. At the age of nine, he discovers Greece, his country of origin, with his father. It is his first visual and cultural shock. The Greek light, landscapes, churches and icons shape him for ever.

He joins the Royal Air Force and takes part in action to rescue the victims of World War II.
In 1948, at the age of 28, Christoforou presents his works in London for the first time. He will destroy most of them later on, considering them the output of his learning years.
Christoforou and his wife, Ruth, settle in Paris in 1957. He keeps his studio in the effervescent Montparnasse quarter where the painters of the Cobra group prevail.
In 1960, his paintings are shown in Paris, at the galerie Rive Gauche, then at Mathias Fels’. He becomes one of the supporting figures of the «nouvelle figuration» beside Maryan, Rebeyrolle and others.
In 1974, Denmark honours the painter at the Randers Kunstmuseum with the first retrospective covering over a hundred pieces.
In the eighties the artist begins a series of large formats. His talent is further recognised in several museum exhibitions. In 1994, the Couvent des Cordeliers in Paris exhibits works by him ranging from 1949 to 1994. In 2000, the Reims Fine Arts museum celebrates him.
In 2002, his own country pays tribute to the artist, putting his works on the lines of the Fine Arts School of Athens, under the auspices of the Greek Minister of Culture.
Christoforou is a painter of matter and light, of encounters in which life and death unite.
He will nevertheless modestly describe himself as «...just a painter. If my painting makes a statement, it is not my intention.»