Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Gikas was one of the most important Greek artists of the 20th century, with a wide range of work in painting, sculpture, engraving, illustration and even set design.
His art is characterized by a unique fusion of Greek tradition with the currents of European modernism, creating a unique, recognizable visual world.

His life: From Athens to Paris and back

Born in 1906 in Athens, Hadjikyriakos-Gikas had roots in Psara and Hydra, two islands with a deep maritime and cultural history. His love for art manifested itself at an early age and at the age of 16 he went to Paris to study literature at the Sorbonne. At the same time, he attended painting classes at the Académie Ranson, with Roger Bissier as his teacher, and engraving classes with the important Greek engraver Dimitris Galanis.

In Paris he came into contact with the avant-garde art movements and presented his work in important exhibitions, such as the Salon des Independents. In 1927 he held his first solo exhibition at the Galerie Percier, while a year later he presented his work in Athens, at the Stratigopoulou Gallery, together with the sculptor Michalis Tombros.

In 1934 he returned permanently to Greece, a decision that marked a new, more mature period in his career.
Although he maintained contact with the international art scene, he concentrated on combining the Greek tradition with modern trends in painting, forming a particular artistic identity.

His work and his contribution to the “Generation of the ’30s”

Hadjikyriakos-Gikas was a protagonist of the famous ‘Generation of the 30s’, a movement that sought to combine Greek aesthetics and tradition with contemporary European artistic and literary trends. His painting combines geometric forms with elements of Greek landscape painting, while his colour palette highlights the brightness and the particular atmosphere of Greek nature and architecture.

Of particular importance in his work are paintings depicting landscapes of Hydra, Athens, Mystras and other regions, where the structure and composition recall cubist influences, without losing their Greekness and unique identity.

Apart from painting, he has been involved in set design and decoration, designing sets and costumes for the Marika Kotopouli Theatre, while he has also collaborated with Dimitris Pikionis, Takis Papatsoni and Socrates Karantinos in the magazine “To Trito Mati”.

His academic career and international distinctions

In 1941 he was elected professor at the Faculty of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens, where he taught until 1958. His teaching left a strong imprint on the new generation of Greek architects and artists, as he promoted the connection between architecture and other art forms.

The recognition of his work was international. In 1972 he became a full member of the Academy of Athens, while in 1986 he was made an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, an extremely rare distinction for a Greek artist.

His home-lab and his legacy

His residence at 3 Kriezotou Street, where he lived and created for more than 40 years, is today an important site of cultural memory. Hadjikyriakos-Ghika’s house-lab has been converted into a Gallery, under the auspices of the Benaki Museum, hosting his works and personal objects, offering the public a comprehensive picture of his life and work.

Among his most emblematic works, paintings such as ‘Hydra’ (1948), ‘Mystras’ (1973) and a series of works depicting Athenian landscapes inspired by the neoclassical architecture and urban environment of the Greek capital stand out.

Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Gikas passed away in 1994, leaving behind a great body of work that continues to influence and inspire artists and scholars. His unique approach to painting, the connection between tradition and modernity and the timeless value of his work make him one of the greatest Greek artists of all time.