Biography

Christos Lefakis (1906–1968), one of the most significant Greek painters and multifaceted artists of the 20th century, holds a distinguished place in the history of Greek art. Born in Soufli, he grew up in an era where Greece’s strong traditions converged with emerging modern aesthetics, which greatly influenced his artistic journey. In 1923, he embarked on his artistic path by enrolling at the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA). He graduated in 1930 from the workshop of Konstantinos Parthenis, an artist who masterfully combined classical values with the avant-garde trends of the time. Under Parthenis’s guidance, Lefakis developed a strong foundation in academic art principles while nurturing his inclination for experimentation and innovation.

His professional career began with his collaboration with the Archaeological Service (1930–1958), where he worked as an artistic consultant and designer. This experience proved pivotal in shaping his aesthetic sensibilities. Through his involvement in excavations and the documentation of archaeological findings, Lefakis fused his deep knowledge of ancient and Byzantine culture with his contemporary artistic practice. D.A. Fatouros (Balkan Studies, Thessaloniki, 1962) emphasized that his exposure to the pictorial works found in architecture and his collaboration in excavations taught him to love the earth and the terrestrial environment.[1] Particularly significant was his collaboration with Konstantinos Rhomaios, through which he developed a profound relationship with the materiality and philosophy of the earth, as well as the study of the ancient and Byzantine worlds.

In the early 1950s, Lefakis traveled to Rome on a scholarship from the Italian government, where he studied fresco, mosaic, and manuscript restoration techniques at the Istituto di Restauro. This period allowed him to enrich his technical skills and engage with European developments in abstraction. Lefakis’s painting evolved radically during the 1950s, embracing the abstract trends of the time. His works from this period are characterized by a bold combination of Cubist influences and lyrical expressionism. He was particularly interested in the effects of materials on surfaces. Dimitris Papastamos noted that Lefakis encapsulated in his work the entire conflict between the classical traditions of the School of Fine Arts and the artistic movements of modernism.[2] Simultaneously, the artist experimented with materials like sand and paper, giving his works a relief-like quality that blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture.

Lefakis is considered the quintessential pioneer of abstract art in Northern Greece. His works combine monochromatic palettes with dynamic gestural brushstrokes, creating compositions that exude both intensity and contemplation. As Charles Spencer noted in Apollo magazine (1963), Lefakis was one of Greece’s most captivating and romantic colorists.[3] Beyond painting, Lefakis engaged in mosaic, fresco, printmaking, stained glass, and even the design of everyday objects. In 1962, he was elected professor of painting at the Visual Arts Workshop of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he taught until his death. His artistic career was celebrated through participation in international exhibitions, such as the Alexandria Biennale (1958), the São Paulo Biennale (1961), and the Venice Biennale (1968). In the latter, held shortly after his death, the works of Lefakis, Apergis, and Grammatopoulos were described by Michalis Tombros as an ideal achievement of the 20th century, with their imaginative dialogue and typical and symbolic intentions.[4] In 1989, retrospective exhibitions were organized at the Vellideio Cultural Center in Thessaloniki and the National Gallery in Athens.

Christos Lefakis was an artist who bridged tradition with modernity, creating a visual language that resonates timelessly. As M. Kalliggas wrote in To Vima (1961), Lefakis seeks to express the meaning of the world he perceives through color and composition […] His lucid colors allude to the deeper essence of existence.[5] His enduring influence lies in his ability to connect the past with the present, crafting a visual language that remains as vibrant and moving today as it was in his time.

Georgia Dimopoulou

Classics Scholar – Editor

[1] Lefakis: 34th Biennale 1968 Venice, 1968.

[2] Papastamos D., Lefakis, National Gallery, Athens, 1989.

[3] See note 1.

[4] Tombros M., XXXIV Biennale Venezia 1968: Hellas – Apergis, Grammatopoulos, Lefakis, Athens, 1968.

[5] See note 1.