Biography

Yiannis Parmakelis, born in 1932 in Heraklion, Crete, studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1952 to 1958, where he was taught by Yiannis Pappas and Yiannis Moralis. His desire to deepen his artistic knowledge led him to Paris, where, with a scholarship from the State Scholarship Foundation (I.K.Y.), he continued his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts from 1961 to 1964. Upon returning to Greece, he divided his time between creation and teaching. In 1966, he worked as an assistant to Yiannis Pappas at the School of Fine Arts, while from 1968 to 1976, he taught freehand drawing at the Athens Technological Institute.

Parmakelis’ evolution in sculpture reflects a continuous contemplation of human existence, both as a physical presence and as a bearer of emotional and social tensions. His early works demonstrate a tendency toward a realistic rendering of the human form, strongly influenced by archaic sculpture and the pursuit of a timeless plasticity. However, the socio-political turmoil during the dictatorship era marked a shift in both the style and content of his work. Parmakelis’ art transformed into a means of expressing protest and existential anguish. The series “Martyrs and Victims” embodies this dramatic change, with his figures taking on surrealist and expressionist characteristics, filled with passion, intensity, and a harrowing sense of entrapment.

Throughout his career, Parmakelis remained active in both the Greek and international art scenes. As a member of the Armos group and the Association of Greek Sculptors, he played a significant role in shaping the contemporary artistic dialogue in Greece. His work has been awarded and exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, with notable participations in the São Paulo Biennale (1967), the Venice Biennale (1970), and the Budapest Biennale (1971). His sculptures can be found in the Goulandris Museum in Andros, the National Gallery, the Vorres Museum, as well as in other public and private collections across Europe and America. His involvement in public sculpture led to the creation of large-scale works for urban spaces, as well as an extensive series of medals. Yiannis Parmakelis’ artistic journey is one of constant transformation—a sculptor who, through his masterful handling of form and materials, moves from classical representation to expressive distortion and ultimately to the purity of abstraction.

Georgia Dimopoulou
Classics Scholar – Editor