“Open Horizons” Exhibition at the Old Customs House of Nafplio

The exhibition focuses on the historical phenomenon of the diaspora identity of five artists of Greek origin who were active in the USA. This is the second exhibition organized by the Ministry of Culture and the National Gallery in the restored space of the old Customs House of Nafplio, following the exhibition Sea, Zeidoros Pnoei, in July 2025.

The old Customs House was historically a crossing point for people, goods and ideas via the sea.

The theme of "Open Horizons" is thus symbolically reinforced: the unfolding of the constant movement of ideas, people and cultures is presented in a space that has stories to tell of movement, exchange and extroversion.

The National Gallery thus continues a long-standing dialogue with the city of Nafplio around the concept of Greek identity.

This particular exhibition, hosted in the first capital of the Greek state, broadens the view towards the Greek diaspora and shows that Greek cultural creation developed beyond the borders of the state.

The exhibition presents twelve works from the collection of the National Gallery, some of which are being brought out of its storage for the first time to be exhibited to the public.

These are works by: George Constant (George Constantinopoulos), Michalis Lekakis, Theodoros Chiou, Theodoros Stamos and Athina Tacha.

The mass wave of immigration from the countries of the poor European South to America began at the beginning of the twentieth century and developed during the interwar period.

The need to address economic hardship and the consequences of the civil war created a new wave of immigration during the 1950s.

First-generation immigrants or children of immigrants, the artists participating in the exhibition were born in America or ended up there in search of an environment more hospitable and receptive to their expressive, ideological and livelihood needs.

They overcome the difficulties of integration by forming networks of trust and mutual support, they study at art academies, become professionally active and chart their own unique path towards conquering their personal style.

They form artistic groups, teach at fine arts schools, are gradually recognized by their fellow artists and are distinguished for the exceptional quality of their work.

With their pioneering achievements, they contribute to the shaping of American art and visual culture, marking the transition from multi-collective representation to abstraction, geometric art, monochromatic field painting, the prevalence of abstract expressionism, contemporary biomorphic sculpture, and public art of an applied and functional nature.

In their work we discover the utilization and transformation of primordial cultural memory, the love for the thematic richness of Greek tradition and mythology, as well as the renegotiation of European modernism.

Diligence:

Syrago Tsiara, General Director of EPMAS

Lambrini Karakourti-Orfanopoulou

Opening Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Time 19:30

Old Customs House of Nafplio

Exhibition Duration: June 30 - October 4, 2026