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Greek, 1905-1975
Composition
oil on canvas
signed lower right
circa 1956
61 x 75 cm
Provenance
private collection, Athens
Literature
Alecos Condopoulos, Athens, 1979, no 123, illustrated
Condopoulos was born in Lamia, Greece in 1904. His first art lessons were taught by the icon painter Sarafianos and he had his first solo exhibition at a cafe in Lamia in 1923.
He studied at The School of Fine Art, Athens between 1923 and 1929 under G. Jakobides, D. Geraniotis, P. Mathiopoulos and N. Lytras. He continued his studies in Paris where he was taught by Le Doux and H. Morisset between 1930 and 1932. He subsequently travelled to Belgium where he studied Flemish art.
After a brief stay in Greece where he associated himself with the ‘Young Pathfinders’ and was a founding member of the ‘Free Artists’ group, he returned to Paris in 1935 and attended classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Colarossi and Grande Chaumiere Academies. In 1937 Condopoulos became a member of the group ‘Paris-Montparnasse’.
He returned to Greece in 1939 and was appointed at The National Archaeological Museum where he worked until 1969.
He participated in the resistance movement against the Nazis, during the Occupation of 1941 and 1944. In 1949 he co-founded the art movement ‘The Extremists’ which contributed to the spread of abstract painting.
He refused to accept the first state award in 1973 in protest against the dictatorship.
Condopoulos exhibited his works worldwide, and participated in several International exhibitions, notably The Biennale of Sao Paulo, Brazil 1953, 1955 (Silver medal) and 1957, The Alexandria Biennale in 1959 and The Venice Biennale in 1960.
His works can be found in prestigious private and public collections such as The National Gallery, Athens, The Municipal Gallery, Athens, The Municipal Gallery, Lamia and The Koutlides Collection.
He studied at The School of Fine Art, Athens between 1923 and 1929 under G. Jakobides, D. Geraniotis, P. Mathiopoulos and N. Lytras. He continued his studies in Paris where he was taught by Le Doux and H. Morisset between 1930 and 1932. He subsequently travelled to Belgium where he studied Flemish art.
After a brief stay in Greece where he associated himself with the ‘Young Pathfinders’ and was a founding member of the ‘Free Artists’ group, he returned to Paris in 1935 and attended classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Colarossi and Grande Chaumiere Academies. In 1937 Condopoulos became a member of the group ‘Paris-Montparnasse’.
He returned to Greece in 1939 and was appointed at The National Archaeological Museum where he worked until 1969.
He participated in the resistance movement against the Nazis, during the Occupation of 1941 and 1944. In 1949 he co-founded the art movement ‘The Extremists’ which contributed to the spread of abstract painting.
He refused to accept the first state award in 1973 in protest against the dictatorship.
Condopoulos exhibited his works worldwide, and participated in several International exhibitions, notably The Biennale of Sao Paulo, Brazil 1953, 1955 (Silver medal) and 1957, The Alexandria Biennale in 1959 and The Venice Biennale in 1960.
His works can be found in prestigious private and public collections such as The National Gallery, Athens, The Municipal Gallery, Athens, The Municipal Gallery, Lamia and The Koutlides Collection.
