Biography
Pavlos Samios was born in Athens in 1948. His father, a shoemaker, crafted elegant women's footwear, and young Pavlos, from an early age, helped in the workshop. He meticulously sketched shoes, “translating” his father’s craftsmanship into detailed drawings—a silent yet profound initiation into the world of form, composition, and art. The scent of leather, the sound of tools, the careful shaping of curves and lines left an indelible mark on his memory, later influencing his painting.
From a young age, Samios was captivated by religious painting, with its sacred colors and metaphysical glow. By the age of fourteen, he was already painting Byzantine icons, delving into the secrets of this ancient tradition. Studying under Dionysis Karousos, he began mastering the techniques of iconography. However, his journey would not be confined to tradition; his restless nature sought new means of artistic expression.
Initially a student of Panos Sarafianos, he later enrolled at the Athens School of Fine Arts, where he studied under two of the greatest Greek painters of the 20th century: Nikos Nikolaou, who instilled in him a deep appreciation for ancient Greek art, and Yiannis Moralis, who introduced him to the aesthetic explorations of modern painting. Equally influential was Yiannis Tsarouchis, whom he met in Paris. Tsarouchis, a master at blending Greece’s artistic past with the present, helped Samios realize that Greek identity was not a limitation but a source of inspiration.
During his student years, Samios became part of the legendary intellectual circle at the “Magical Flute.” There, under the influence of Manos Hadjidakis, he experienced nights of feverish thought, where discussions ranged from ancient Greek philosophy to modern poetry, from folk traditions to avant-garde artistic movements. Hadjidakis encouraged him to think without boundaries, to explore new perspectives in his creative process.
In 1978, Samios moved to Paris. He arrived with confidence, exhilarated by the success of a recent exhibition in Greece. However, the reality of Paris was harsh. Confronted with an unfamiliar and demanding artistic scene, he worked with passion, determined to find his own voice in an environment that was both challenging and exhilarating. This experience matured him. His paintings began to acquire a distinctive atmosphere, where the light of Byzantium coexisted with contemporary visual language. Themes such as cafés, female figures, and ancient fragments gained a new depth. His works became visual poems, where memory and imagination intertwined inseparably.
In 1985, a fire destroyed his studio, obliterating a significant part of his work. Yet, from this devastation, a newfound freedom emerged. Instead of attempting to recreate what was lost, he left the past behind and started anew, with greater boldness and immediacy.
In 1992, after fourteen years abroad, Samios returned to Greece. His return infused his painting with new intensity. His colors became brighter, his compositions more daring. His female figures—both maternal and sensual—radiated warmth, making the canvas pulse with life. At the same time, from 2000 onward, he taught at the Athens School of Fine Arts, where he specialized in fresco techniques, Byzantine painting, and miniature art. For Samios, art was not merely a personal expression but also a responsibility: tradition had to be kept alive through teaching.
Over the course of his career, he held more than seventy solo exhibitions. His works, rich with memories, revisited the symbols of his life: the elegant shoes, the women, the cafés, the sea.
On February 4, 2021, Pavlos Samios passed away. Yet his work remains. “Perhaps that is why I paint. To leave something behind.” And indeed, he left behind an entire world—a world that is Greek, luminous, and unique.
Georgia Dimopoulou
Classics Scholar – Editor
Source: The information and photographic material in this text are sourced from the official website of Pavlos Samios and the “Samios Documentary”, directed by Maria Giannouli.