Biography

John Gregoropoulos, an artist with deep vision and a dedicated teacher, was born in December 1921 in Athens. His family hailed from the mountainous village of Lagkadia in the Peloponnese, yet he was destined to live between two worlds. His father, having acquired American citizenship, ensured that Gregoropoulos was a citizen of both Greece and the United States. His childhood was marked by a relocation to Boston, where he discovered his profound love for art.

The 1930s brought the family back to Athens, where Gregoropoulos studied painting and drawing. He then experienced the tragic events of World War II and the Greek Civil War, events that left a deep imprint on him. Upon learning that a ship carrying refugees was departing for America, he made the fateful decision to leave. Arriving in the United States during a period of upheaval, he enlisted in the military. After his service, he studied philosophy at the University of Connecticut, where he would later become a professor himself. It was there that he met Noemi Carocari, a kindred artistic spirit, whom he married in 1950, and together they had three children.

His teaching career began at Norwich Free Academy, but in 1953, he was invited to teach at the University of Connecticut. There, he became a pivotal figure in the fine arts department, teaching painting, drawing, and theory. He remained at the university until his retirement in 1985, while continuing to teach at Connecticut College until 1995.

As an artist, Gregoropoulos explored expressionist abstraction while incorporating elements of intricate graphic detail and intense expressiveness. Though his work remained relatively unknown in Greece—except for his participation in Panhellenic exhibitions—he represented his country in numerous international exhibitions, primarily in the United States. His works are housed in museums such as the DeCordova Museum in Massachusetts, the Slater Museum, and the Ball State Foundation, while his exhibitions were featured at the Whitney Museum in New York, the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and galleries such as the Titanium Gallery in Athens.

His influence extended to the media, with many of his appearances being broadcast on radio and television. John Gregoropoulos passed away in 2012 in North Stonington, Connecticut. His work and teaching continue to inspire, etched into canvases, memories, and the lives of those he touched.

Georgia Dimopoulou
Classics Scholar – Editor

Source: The information in this text is drawn from the book “Greek Artists Abroad” by the Directorate of Greeks Abroad, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1983), and from the official website Creative Places: Arts & Letters in 20th Century Connecticut.