Athens, January 22 – The Municipal Gallery of Athens is currently hosting a comprehensive retrospective exhibition dedicated to the acclaimed contemporary Greek artist, Kyriakos Mortarakos. The exhibition, which opened on January 21, features more than 150 works and is structured into thematic sections that trace Mortarakos’s artistic journey from his student years at the Athens School of Fine Arts to the full breadth of his mature production.
A Landmark Cultural Event in Athens
Organized by the non-profit AMKE POLITES with the support of the Athens Municipality’s Organization for Culture, Sports and Youth (OPANDA), the exhibition is curated by art historian and museologist Katerina Koskina. It unfolds across both buildings of the Municipal Gallery and will run until January 25, 2026.
Kyriakos Mortarakos has made a lasting mark on contemporary Greek art through both his creative work and his academic career as Professor Emeritus at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This retrospective aims to provide a holistic view of his significant contributions to the art world.
Exploring Mortarakos’s Multifaceted Practice
The exhibition showcases a diverse collection of Mortarakos’s work, including paintings and works on paper. In addition to these, the presentation incorporates archival material – both printed, digital, and analog – as well as installations and immersive environments. These elements collectively illuminate the artist’s multifaceted practice and offer deeper insights into his creative process.
According to curator Katerina Koskina, Mortarakos’s art forms a distinctive and deeply personal visual universe. A notable characteristic of his work is the frequent replacement of images with written language through abstraction, creating a unique visual narrative. His art is marked by a restrained, yet forceful sense of materiality that further strengthens its impact.
Addressing Existential and Artistic Themes
Through the deliberate reduction of pictorial storytelling and the incorporation of handwritten notes, numbers, and objects directly onto the painted surface, Mortarakos addresses fundamental existential themes. His work delves into concepts such as time, memory, loss, and decay. Concurrently, he probes core artistic questions concerning representation and the evolving role of painting in contemporary art.
The Artist’s Journey: From Student to Professor Emeritus
Born in Athens in 1948, Kyriakos Mortarakos pursued his artistic education at the Athens School of Fine Arts, where he studied painting, fresco, and stage design. His academic career flourished, leading him to serve as a full professor at the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from 2005 to 2015. He continues to hold the prestigious title of Professor Emeritus at the institution.
Over the course of his extensive career, Mortarakos has presented twenty solo exhibitions both in Greece and internationally. His solo shows have graced prestigious venues such as the Zygos Gallery in Washington, D.C., and prominent Athens galleries including Nees Morfes and Zoumboulakis. Furthermore, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions at major institutions and museums, including the Benaki Museum, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, the National Gallery of Athens, and various venues in Istanbul, Shanghai, Romania, and Berlin.
The retrospective at the Municipal Gallery of Athens offers a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts and the general public to immerse themselves in the profound and diverse body of work created by one of Greece’s most influential contemporary artists.
