One of the most important representatives of the so-called “generation of 60”, the painter Christos Karas, passed away at the age of 93, on Easter Sunday.

Awarded by the Academy of Athens in 2001 for his entire body of work, Christos Karas “ranks among the creators who made a substantial impact on Greek art. Karas persistently fought for the conquest of a new image from the beginning of his artistic career until he was 93 years old” writes art theorist Takis Mavrotas, announcing the news of the painter’s death in a post.

Among his monumental compositions, the “Space Poetry” for the Chalandrio station of the Athenian metro stands out.

His last solo exhibition was in 2022, entitled “Christos Karas, The great dreamer” at Sianti Gallery, curated by Manos Stefanidis. In parallel with the exhibition, the book of the same title was published by Nikas publications.

Christos Karas was born in Trikala, Thessaly, in 1930. After two years of study at Panteio (1948 – 1950), he studied at A.S.K.T. (1951 – 1955), near Yiannis Moralis and Yiannis Pappas. As a scholarship holder of the I.K.Y. he studied fresh at the School of Fine Arts in Paris (1957 – 1960) and remained in France until 1963, traveling at the same time to neighboring countries, such as Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy and Great Britain. Ten years later, with a scholarship from the Ford Foundation, he worked in New York (1973 – 1975). During this time he visited many cities in the United States and Canada. He presented his first solo exhibition in 1961 at the “Zygos” gallery, while already in 1952 he began to take part in Panhellenic exhibitions. His presence in international group exhibitions was also important (3rd Paris Biennale of Young Artists 1963, 7th Alexandria Biennale 1965, Sao Paulo Biennale 1967, Venice Biennale 1984, 4th European Engraving Biennale Baden-Baden 1985).

In 1963, as part of the efforts to renew the artistic climate in Greece, he participated in the founding of the “Tomi” group, and in 1976 of the “Artists’ Association”.

Informed of the loss of the painter Christos Karas, the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni made the following statement:

“The broad spirit and dynamic presence characterized the long career of Christos Karas, an artist with an international career and participation in many events abroad. After his studies in Panteio, he studied at the School of Fine Arts with teachers Yannis Moralis and Yannis Pappas and continued, with a scholarship, in Paris. An artist with open horizons, he traveled a lot, in Europe, America and Canada before holding his first exhibition in 1961, in Athens, at the historic “Zygos” gallery. Upon his return to Greece, he actively participated in the effort to create a contemporary artistic current, participating in many group exhibitions. His action in joint actions with other Greek visual artists was also important. He founded with his colleagues the group “Tomi” and the “Association of Greek Artists”, while he participated in the organization of the “1st Congress of Greek Artists of Plastic Arts”, as well as many international symposia. A special moment in his career was the national representation of Greece in 1984, with his participation in the 41st Venice Biennale. The prize awarded to him in 2001 by the Academy of Athens sums up his special contribution to the visual arts. My sincere condolences to his family and friends».

The Deputy Minister of Culture, Nikolas Giatromanolakis, made the following statement:

“THE Christos Karas was a restless artistic spirit of the “30’s generation”. Having apprenticed next to Moralis and Pappa, he then studied in Paris and traveled and worked in Europe, the USA and Canada, constantly collecting data and constantly evolving his work: From the first collages he progressed to expressive works of an expressionist and surrealist nature, for to later give compositions with elements of “poetic realism”, while he also dealt a lot with drawing. Active in the artistic activities of Greece, he participated in 1964 in the founding of the “Tomi” group, and in 1976 in the establishment of the “Artists’ Association”. Heartfelt condolences to his friends and family».