An exhibition dedicated to the art, memory, and creative legacy of a small village on Tinos will open in Venardados on July 21, 2026.

On Tinos, the island of stone and wind, in the heart of Exo Meria, Venardados showcases its unique artistic identity through a major group exhibition featuring artists hailing from the village.

The Agios Ioannis Theologos Cultural Association of Venardados, Tinos as part of its 2026 summer events, presents the multifaceted exhibition “Venardados: Art Then and Now,” dedicated to the Higher School of Fine Arts and Marble Craft of Panormos, Tinos, and to all the marble artisans, sculptors, and visual artists of the island.

The exhibition presents a fusion of art and memory in a creative dialogue that brings the past and the present together through artistic approaches. The exhibition is inspired by and stems from contemporary reflection on collective memory and its transformations across space and time, approaching art as a living cultural practice and a medium of creative expression through the historical lens of present-day research. The artists utilize traditional materials and techniques, enriching them with contemporary media, to highlight both the element of memory and contemporary social and environmental issues through a fresh, dynamic visual language.

Art historian and exhibition curator Venia Pastaka notes:

“The village of Venardados on Tinos, almost hidden at the bend in the road before Pyrgos, becomes the focal point of a grand visual narrative. The exhibition seeks to highlight the unique artistic legacy of a small place that, despite its size, has produced and continues to host an impressive number of artists. In this way, Venardados serves as a living repository of memory, tradition, and artistic continuity. Its connection to marble and art is deeply rooted in the history of the island of Tinos and is quietly passed down from generation to generation. This is the birthplace of prominent marble sculptors, sculptors, and visual artists who have shaped a unique cultural identity. The exhibition brings together works by both older and contemporary artists, shedding light on the evolution of artistic production in Venardados: from marble craftsmanship and folk sculpture to contemporary visual expression. Through these works, the exhibition highlights how tradition engages with the present and is creatively transformed.”

The following artists are participating, in chronological order:

Giannoulis Koulouris – Manolis Voulgaris – Ioannis Voulgaris – Petros Perakis –  Nikos Gaitis- Lazaros Valakas – Giorgos Kontonikolaou –  Filippas Skaris – Antonis Valakas – Giannis Palamaris – Manthos Gaitis – Michalis Kontonikolaou – Dimitris Skaris – Konstantina Sylikou – Evangelia Athanasiou – Pinelopi Gaiti – Michalis Alvertis – Kosmas Skaris- Antonis Pittas -Giorgos Palamaris – Giorgos Palamaris – Andriana Voulgari – Stelios Kontonikolaou

The works create an informal dialogue between contemporary visual art and traditional techniques, using marble, stone, paint, thread, fabric, paper, and more. Through the diverse artistic expressions of their personal visual aesthetic, they conceptually refer to the symbolic dimension of a culture’s social memory and highlight the timeless value of art.

Exhibition Organizer: “Agios Ioannis Theologos Cultural Association of Venardados, Tinos”