Hambis TSAGGARIS was born in Kontea, in the Famagusta district of Cyprus, in 1947.

From an early age, he showed a strong interest in drawing and printmaking. In 1971, he went to Athens, where he received his first lessons in engraving from the distinguished Greek printmaker A. Tassos. He later studied graphic arts at the Surikov State Art Institute in Moscow from 1976 to 1982, graduating with a Master’s degree in Graphic Art. After completing his studies, he returned to Cyprus and settled in Platanisteia, in the Limassol district, where he continues to live and work.

Hambis is regarded as one of the most important Cypriot printmakers. He has devoted his life to the art of printmaking, working in woodcut, lithography, etching, linocut and screen printing. His work is deeply connected with Cyprus, its history, folklore, landscape, myths and traditions, as well as with the suffering and memory of the island after 1974.

His prints are characterised by strong line, narrative clarity, expressive contrast and a deep attachment to popular culture. Through scenes inspired by Cypriot legends, village life, historical memory and folk tales, Hambis developed a distinctive visual language that combines technical mastery with the directness and vitality of popular tradition.

Beyond his own artistic production, he has made a major contribution to art education and the preservation of printmaking in Cyprus. He travelled throughout the island offering free printmaking lessons and sharing Cypriot folk traditions with children, teachers and communities. He also illustrated and published works connected with Cypriot folktales and legends, including traditions about the kalikangiari.

In 2008, he founded the Hambis Printmaking Museum in Platanisteia, the first museum in Cyprus dedicated to printmaking. In 2019, the Hambis Municipal Museum of Printmaking was inaugurated in Nicosia. Through these institutions, as well as through his teaching, exhibitions and cultural initiatives, Hambis has helped create a wider community of printmakers in Cyprus.

Hambis Tsaggaris has also promoted intercommunal dialogue through joint exhibitions and exchanges involving Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists. In recognition of his contribution to heritage, education and cultural dialogue, he was honoured as a European Heritage Champion by the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards.

Hambis Tsaggaris remains recognised as a leading figure in Cypriot printmaking, admired for his dedication to the preservation of folk culture, his expressive graphic language and his lifelong commitment to making printmaking accessible to the wider public.