Alexia Marouli,
Cicadas,
acrylics and oils on canvas,
30 x 42 cm,
2024

When a new art space is inaugurated, one that is not solely commercially driven but aspires to contribute to the evolution of the arts, it inevitably makes its mark on the artistic landscape of the country. It intervenes. An art space aids in mapping, evolving, and clarifying the cultural terrain.

Andreas Vousouras,
Life in a ghosthouse,
mixed media,
120 x 90 cm,
2024

Alma Gallery was founded by Maria and her husband Manolis Albanis in 2010, in Trikala. Manolis Albanis, a painter and iconographer, was a student of Moralis and Mytaras and has a significant body of work in church iconography in the Trikala region. In 2010, in the midst of the economic crisis, their decision to create a new gallery seemed exceedingly bold. The art scene in Greece was very fluid: a new generation of artists had already made a dynamic appearance, forming what was called the “Scene”; art venues and institutions were faltering. We were all hanging by a thread in every respect: psychological, economic, ideological, cultural, and identity-wise. Maria Albanis’ faith in art and her support of artists drove her to a calm and measured approach. Initially focusing on easel painting (which, at that time, was slowly beginning to regain some lost ground after a period of significant decline, bringing to light new dynamics, new forms, and new approaches to painting and contemporary perceptions of painting—contrasting and breaking away from the exhausted forms of the past), Maria Albanis maintains that good painting transcends time. Instead of categorizing works by specific movements or schools, she emphasizes the quality and essence of the painting. Despite this emphasis, she stands in the middle of the spectrum (opposing trends and the notion of “anything goes”), simultaneously giving space to all mediums. Over time, this intention has only strengthened. Concurrently, the gallery provides a platform for young artists to exhibit their work.

Andreas Vousouras,
Wonderwoman,
mixed media,
90 x 60 cm,
2024

Although the gallery operates in a provincial town, its spirit is universal and unconventional. The exhibitions organized go beyond geographical boundaries. Renowned Greek artists with a wide range of mediums and styles are hosted or form the gallery's core, such as (indicatively): Demosthenes Kokkinidis, Giorgos Milios, Pavlos Samios, Manolis Zacharioudakis, Manolis Haros, Michalis Manousakis, Angelos Antonopoulos, Xenophon Bitsikas, Tassos Missouras, Giorgos Kazazis, and Marios Spiliopoulos, Capten, Maria Vlanti, Katerina Mertzani…

Angelos Antonopoulos,
Portrait A,
mixed media,
60 x 60 x 12 cm,
2023

From its early years, the gallery emphasized its international presence and the representation of Greek artists abroad, regularly participating in international art fairs and exhibitions such as Discovery Frankfurt, Art Market Budapest, Frame Art Basel, Frame Paris, Art Athina, Swab Barcelona, Affordable Brussels, Affordable Hamburg, among others, striving to be present and engaged in the dialogue and exchange between Greek and foreign artists.

Angelos Antonopoulos,
Portrait B,
mixed media,
60 x 60 x 12 cm,
2023

In 2015, during the peak of the economic crisis, Alma Gallery took the risk of expanding to Athens, opening a second space on Ypsilantou Street in Kolonaki. Compared to the previous five years, the art scene seemed even more confused and fluid: galleries had closed, institutions were fully renegotiating their roles and goals, independent spaces and platforms, collectives, and groups had emerged, redefining the art scene. Many foreign artists, due to the prolonged economic crisis and the subsequent international attention to the country, discovered Athens and chose to settle and work in the city, seeing it as a fascinating destination. Alma experienced perhaps its most fertile period despite the objective difficulties. In the years that followed, it focused on promoting new artists and continued organizing solo and group exhibitions, showcasing the work of emerging and established Greek and international artists. Art and artists need people to support them fervently. As I write these lines, the exhibition of Mateo Andrea (son of Pat Andrea), who exhibited in Athens for the first time, has just ended. Meanwhile, the Albanis’ son, Nikolas, an artist with studies in fine arts in Florence, digital arts at Camberwell College in London, and post-production at NFTS, having worked in film production, has creatively contributed to many fields, having also worked for a period at the gallery.

Aris Katsilakis,
Animalia,
ψημένη mixed media,
2022-2024

The latest milestone in Alma Gallery's journey in the art world is its relocation to its new space on Skoufa Street: an even more ambitious venture that inaugurates its new era with the current group exhibition “Living Together.” This exhibition will introduce to the public all the collaborators that the gallery has embraced over time, who have become its core and family. The exhibition opens on September 13, 2024, featuring artists such as Pavlos Samios, Pat Andrea, Kostas Papanikolaou, Tassos Missouras, Michalis Manousakis, Angelos Antonopoulos, Manolis Charos, Marios Spiliopoulos, Katerina Mertzani, Nikos Kaskouras, Takis Germenis, Maria Vlanti, Rania Ragou, Dimitris Mistriotis, Aris Katsilakis, Spiros Aggelopoulos, Kostas Argiris, Andreas Vousouras, Stamatis Theoharis, Michalis Kiousis, Dimitris Kokkoris, Alexia Marouli, Thodoris Bargiotas,Giorgos Tsirigotakis and Vana Fertaki.

An art gallery is a living organism; thus, it must evolve, perceive changes, if not participate in their unfolding, readjust its goals by setting new ones, and surpass itself. The journey is always arduous but always worthwhile.

Thanos Stathopoulos

Captain Migas,
Memory yarn,
squid ink and yarn,
120 x 120 cm,
2024

Dimitris Kokoris,
Modern Ruins,
Acrylic on canvas,
160 x 120 cm,
2023

Giorgos Tsirigotakis,
Untitled,
mixed media,
125 x 100 cm,
2024

Katerina Mertzani,
Baroque daydreaming,
acrylics and collage on wood,
35 x 33 cm,
2024

Katerina Mertzani,
Bliss Vacuum,
acrylics and collage on tissue,
110 x 120 cm,
2024

Katerina Mertzani,
Wealthia,
acrylics and collage on paper,
90 x 80 cm,
2024

Kostas Argyris,
Eliza,
painted ceramic,
20 x 27 x 26 cm,
2012

Kostas Argyris,
Sofia,
painted plaster,
28 x 16 x 30 cm,
2008

Manolis Charos,
The last look,
acrylics and oils on canvas,
100 x 80 cm,
2019-2024

Maria Vlandi,
Escape,
Stoneware,
80 x 85 x 20 cm,
2021

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Moses,
mixed media,
33 x 33 cm

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Άμφιο Κληρικού,
tempera on paper,
34 x 34 cm

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Συνοδεία - Ν.Γ.Πεντζίκη,
tempera and herbal pigments on paper,
2002

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Το 3,
tempera and gold marker,
27 x 33 cm,
2005

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Το Μέγα Σχήμα,
tempera on cardboard,
33 x 40 cm,
2012

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Night banner,
tempera and pastel on paperboard,
36 x 30 cm,
2005

Marios Spiliopoulos,
Προς εκκλησιασμο-Ν.Γ.Πεντζίκη,
mixed media,
36 x 36 cm,
2002

Michalis Kiousis,
Les Pêcheurs,
acrylics and oils on canvas,
153 x 108 cm,
2024

Michalis Manousakis,
Για να φτιάξεις γεφύρια στα θεμελια τ'ουρανού,
χωρις σκαλωσιές και σίδερα,
χωρίς καρφιά και βαρίδια,
acrylics and coal on wood,
50 x 60 cm,
2017

Nikos Kaskouras,
Nocturnal,
acrylics on canvas,
140 x 110 cm,
2023

Pat Andrea,
Under water world,
mixed media on paper,
150 x 180 cm,
2017

Pavlos Samios,
Untitled,
oil on canvas,
97 x 65 cm,
2004

Rania Rangou,
Good intentions and bad habits,
acrylics and oil on canvas,
160 x 160 cm,
2023-24

Rania Rangou,
The Outlander II,
acrylics and oil on canvas,
180 x 100 cm,
2023-24

Spyros Aggelopoulos,
Apocalypse,
mixed media,
50 x 70 cm,
2024

Spyros Aggelopoulos,
Cosmogony,
mixed media,
50 x 70 cm,
2024

Stamatis Theoharis,
Protection,
acrylics on canvas,
100 x 80 cm,
2024

Takis Germenis,
Summers are not always the same I,
oil on canvas,
50 x 60 cm,
2024

Takis Germenis,
Summers are not always the same II,
oil on canvas,
50 x 60 cm,
2024

Tassos Misouras,
Untitled,
oil on canvas glued into decoupage sea plywood,
100 x 80 cm

Theo Bargiotas,
Glowfish Monster Hunters (terra incognita),
oil on canvas,
130 x 120 cm,
2024

Vana Fertaki,
Interior,
mixed media,
120 x 100 cm,
2024