TSANTILIS ART GALLERY welcomes 2026 with a unique exhibition by Giorgio Bounias, entitled ICONIC PRESENCES, to be inaugurated on Friday, January 16. This exhibition brings together a compelling body of mixed-media works in which Giorgio Bounias reinterprets historical, cultural, and artistic icons from Greece and the international scene. Through a dynamic fusion of collage, painting, archival imagery, and printed media, the artist constructs contemporary portraits that bridge memory, identity, and collective consciousness.

Figures such as Pavlos Melas, Maria Callas, Frida Kahlo, and other emblematic personalities emerge from layered surfaces of newspapers, photographs, and symbolic color fields. These works transcend traditional portraiture, transforming each subject into a timeless cultural presence filtered through a contemporary visual language.

With ICONIC PRESENCES, Tsantilis Art Gallery continues its commitment to presenting artists who engage critically with history while maintaining strong contemporary relevance. The exhibition reflects the gallery’s curatorial focus on works of lasting cultural and artistic value, appealing to both discerning collectors and an international audience.

About the Artist

Giorgio Bounias was born in Greece and studied the conservation of artworks and antiquities in Italy, completing internships at the Vatican and the Uffizi Museum in Florence. These experiences strongly influenced his artistic practice and visual language.

Alongside painting, he has worked in visual and stage design for theatrical productions at the Art Theatre Karolos Koun and the Vasilakou Theatre, collaborating with Elli Tringou. His multidisciplinary practice includes collage, mixed-media painting, and interventions on horned cattle skulls, exploring the relationship between historical memory and contemporary expression.

His work has been exhibited at the Marathon Museum, the Tsitsanis Museum in Trikala, and Le Petit Paris of Athens, while solo exhibitions include the Bageion Hotel (2020) and international galleries in Greece and abroad. He has participated in programs by the Greek National Opera and the CREAID Foundation.

About Tsantilis Art Gallery

Tsantilis Art Gallery is recognized as Athens’ leading art destination, curating exclusively investment-grade masterpieces of 20th-century Greek and contemporary art. With nearly 100 years of expertise, the gallery has built a reputation for trust, connoisseurship, and long-term cultural value.

The gallery is trusted by upscale private residences from New York and Monaco to Kolonaki, and has been featured by leading international and national media including Tatler, Vogue UK, Louis Vuitton Travel, Kathimerini, CNN, and TV5.

Exhibition Details

Artist: Giorgio Bounias
Exhibition Title: ICONIC PRESENCES
Medium: Mixed media, collage, painting
Opening Reception: Friday, 16 January| 18:00 – 21:00
Exhibition Duration: 16 January – 26 January

Venue & Contact Information

Tsantilis Art Gallery
Sekeri 5, Kolonaki
Athens, Greece

📞 T: +30 210 360 5337
✉️ E: info@tsantilisart.com
📷 Instagram: @tsantilisart

Press & Further Information:
Contact Elena Kleftogianni