Draft:Yiannis Zacharopoulos

Yiannis Zacharopoulos

Early Life and Education

Yiannis Zacharopoulos was born in Drama, Greece, in 1951. He grew up in Thessaloniki and spent most of his life in Kavala. He was tutored in painting by Vlassis Tsotsonis, known as the "Painter of Angels," with whom he studied Byzantine painting.

Career

Zacharopoulos began exhibiting his artwork in 1991 and participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Greece and internationally. In 1993, he established a workshop for free painting studies, and in 2000, he founded the art gallery "Art Tobacco Factory" in Kavala. Alongside his painting career, he was active in cultural journalism, producing content for radio and television.

Artistic Style

Yiannis Zacharopoulos was renowned for his use of color and his anthropocentric themes, which included portraits, cityscapes, beaches, bars, a concert, and nature-inspired motifs imbued with a human presence. His work often depicted scenes that reflected his personal experiences and emotions, creating a vivid and immediate environment within his paintings.

Even the secondary features of his themes are consciously used to explore the aesthetic possibility of the everyday world surrounding us, as seen in his collection, “Pavilions”. In the “Pavilions” collection, Zacharopoulos painted what he saw as his own spiritual portrait, informed by the environment around him and his perceptions, which evoked powerful emotions within him, moving him to place objects in the paintings according to what he loved most, thus permanently enshrining the pulse of their lives into his work forever. Collections and Exhibitions

Zacharopoulos's works are part of prestigious private and public collections in Greece and abroad. Some of his notable exhibitions include:

Solo Exhibitions


 * 1991: Shelter of Letters & Arts - Kavala
 * 1994: Cultural Organization of Skopelos Municipality - Skopelos
 * 1995: Cultural Organization of Besançon Municipality - France
 * 1996: Papanikolaou Foundation - Komotini
 * 1997: Cultural Organization of Skopelos Municipality - Skopelos
 * 1998: University of Macedonia - Thessaloniki
 * 2002: Art Gate Psirri - Athens
 * 2002: Tobacco Factory Art Gallery - Kavala
 * 2004: Kalogeriko - Limenas, Thassos
 * 2004: Great Club of Kavala (former municipal library of Kavala) - Kavala
 * 2007: Great Club of Kavala (former municipal library of Kavala) - Kavala
 * 2008: Municipal Gallery of Piraeus - Piraeus
 * 2009: Touring exhibition “Colors of soul” Xanthi - Municipal Gallery Xristos Pavlidis, Drama - Foyer of amphitheater Konstantinos Karamanlis, Kavala - Municipal Tobacco Warehouse of Kavala
 * 2012: Art Hall F.A.A.TH - Thessaloniki
 * 2022: Kalogeriko - Limenas, Thassos
 * 2023: Great Club of Kavala (former municipal library of Kavala) - Kavala
 * 2023: Municipal Art Gallery of Mykonos - Mykonos

Group Exhibitions


 * 1997: Gazi - Athens
 * 2000: Vellideion Conference Centre - Thessaloniki
 * 2004 - 2008: Exhibitions by the art institution “FLAME OF ART” of the Ministry of Culture
 * 2008: GENIOUS LOCI - Municipal Tobacco Warehouse of Kavala, organized by ART BOX

Legacy

Yiannis Zacharopoulos's work is characterized by a deep respect for art and a unique blend of Greek and international artistic trends. His paintings often capture urban environments, places of entertainment, and contemporary portraits, all imbued with a sense of Greek cultural rhythm and an avant-garde approach. His exhibition titled "Day and Night" showcased his ability to depict cityscapes both in daylight and at night, emphasizing the brightness of the Greek night. Zacharopoulos's contributions to art are celebrated for their originality, aesthetic depth, and ability to evoke emotional and intellectual responses from viewers. His work continues to be a significant part of the Greek and international art scene, enriching the cultural landscape and artistic education of many.