From November 11, 2026, through January 23, 2027, the G. Gounaropoulos Museum presents the temporary exhibition When Young Artists Learned Not to Be Afraid: Gounaropoulos, Kanellis, Eleftheriadis, Loukopoulos. The exhibition highlights how the painter Giorgos Gounaropoulos (1889–1977) served, during the 1930s, as a “mentor” to the younger artists Orestis Kanellis (1910–1979), Takis Eleftheriadis (1911–1987), and Klearchos Loukopoulos (1906–1995). By juxtaposing works that were previously unknown to scholars and the public or had not been exhibited for decades, the stylistic affinities among the four artists and their ongoing dialogue are brought to light, raising an important research question: how Gounaropoulos served as a role model for many Greek artists at the time, teaching them “not to be afraid” to champion the new.

Duration: 11 November 2026 – 23 January 2027

Opening Night: Wednesday 11 November 2026, at 19:00

Exhibition curators: Spyros Moschonas, Ph.D. in Art History, and Dionysia Giakoumi, Ph.D. in Art History and Curator, G. Gounaropoulos Museum
With the collaboration of Zoe Charalambidou, Museologist, G. Gounaropoulos Museum

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-16:00

Admission to the exhibition and all events is free

In connection with the exhibition’s theme and works, a series of accompanying events will be held according to the schedule below.

Accompanying events

Lectures

Keynote: Spyros Moschonas, Dr Art History

• Saturday 28 November , 11:00-12:00

Orestis Kanellis: From Mytilene to Paris and Modernism

• Saturday 12 December, 11:00-12:00

Takis Eleftheriadis: Modernism in the alleys of Petra and the olive groves of Lesbos

• Saturday 16 January, 11:00-12:00

Klearchos Loukopoulos: The First Steps of an Abstract Sculptor

Exhibition Tours

• Saturday 28 November, 12:00-13:00

Guided tour of the exhibition by Spyros Moschonas and descendants of the artists

• Saturday 12 December, 12:00-13:00

Guided tour of the permanent collection of the G. Gounaropoulos Museum led by Dionysia Giakoumi, Ph.D. in Art History and Curator of the Museum

• Saturday 16 January, 12:00-13:00

Guided tour of the exhibition by Spyros Moschonas and descendants of the artists