Biography
Gregory Kondos with his captivating illustrations of the unique beauty of nature, has left an indelible mark on the art world. Born on November 13, 1923, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Kondos embarked on an artistic life journey, which will establish him as one of the most important artists of the Hellenic Diaspora in contemporary art. He studied alongside important artists, such as Clyfford Still, Richard Diebenkorn and Mark Rothko. Kondos embraced the California Impressionist movement, adding to his landscapes a remarkable sense of luminosity in landscape painting. Drawing inspiration from this movement, Kondos embraced a harmonious interplay of light, color, and texture.
Konto’s artistic exploration began at the California College of the Arts (CCA) in San Francisco. His simple yet vibrant palette and elegant lines, influenced by artists such as Willem de Kooning, Cezanne and Gauguin, also justify the profound impact he had on the field of modern landscape painting. Kontos traveled all around the world to paint, spending time in Greece and France, as well as spending significant time in the American Southwestern states, which inspired him to create a series of majestic desert landscapes. Kondos is particularly known for his vivid and expressive illustrations of the landscapes of California, often focusing on the scenic beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Pacific coastline, and the Sacramento River Delta.
He describes his paintings as having a sense of tranquility and cleanliness, while maintaining a necessary solitary quality. He is referred to as the expert on the color palette of blue. During one of his last interviews when asked about it, he replied “I’m from Greece, a civilization, a heritage that leans on blue, everything is blue.”
The artistic contribution of Gregory Kondos has received well-deserved recognition. His excellence on mastering light and color has offered him multiple excellences and honors, establishing his place in contemporary art, as an artist who effortlessly bridges the gap between abstraction and representation. He has participated in solo and group exhibitions, including in major venues, such as the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. His artworks are in important public and private collections, and he has received many awards for his contribution to the arts.
In the mid-70s, he joined the faculty of Sacramento City College and Gregory Kondos became director of the gallery and of the relevant actions. In 1982, after several modernization projects were completed, Gregory Kondos retired, and the “Little Gallery” was renamed after Gregory Kondos to Kondos Gallery. In 1997, Chris Daubert artist and art faculty member took over as director and helped secure the gallery’s remodeling in 2009. The Kondos Gallery reopened in the fall of 2010, maintaining its traditions and leading Gregory Kondos’ vision forward into the 21st century.
Through his educational work, as he says, he tried to introduce young people to art, emphasizing how important art is for life and human balance. He encourages young people to make mistakes and teaches them passion for art. His alternative teaching approach has enabled him to shape the artistic education of numerous aspiring artists, nourishing their creativity and provoking a deep appreciation for the natural world. One of his students says: “Greg was the loveliest, most approachable, but I learned something very important, not only about how to paint but also about the passion behind it. Painting is about how you see and what you feel.”
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the culture and education of the citizens of California, the Board of the State University of California and the University of California in Sacramento awarded Gregory Kondos an Honorary Title of Doctor of Fine Arts in 2016-Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.
Gregory Kondos passed away on December 29, 2021, leaving behind a legacy as a well-known landscape artist, who captured the essence of the natural world through his unique artistic vision. His work is associated with the California School of Fine Arts and is recognized as one of the prominent figures of the California Impressionist movement.
“Why paint? Why live?” It is his personal motto.
As far as his point of view is concerned, art is as important as life.
References
- Gregory Kondos Interview (http://artrevealedshow.com)
- Kondos Gallery (https://scc.losrios.edu)
- Documentary for Gregory Kondos: A Passion for Land. (https://americanarchive.org)
- Gussow, A. (1971). A Sense of Place: The Artist and the American Land. United States: Saturday Review Press.
- Art legend Gregory Kondos happily paints the blues, California State University, Sacramento (https://www.csus.edu)
- Sacramento Landscape Artist Gregory Kondos Dies At 97, California State University, Sacramento (https://www.youtube.com)
- Gregory Kondos discusses his storied career in art: World-renowned Sacramento artist continues to produce high-quality art (https://www.valcomnews.com)
Georgia Manolopoulou
Museologist