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ARTS & CULTURE
Santorini’s Top 5 Contemporary Art Galleries
Santorini is not just for lovers - it's for art lovers too. Discover the top hotspots for buying unique works.
Away from the sunset-seeking crowds, wedding parties, beachgoers and nightlife crowd is the small but significant Santorini art scene. With a handful of top quality galleries located in Oia and Fira, art aficionados are sure to find works that inspire and inform them to better discover the beauty of the island.
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At these five artspots you’ll find everything from photography and paintings to jewellery and sculptures, by both local and international, budding and well-established artists. Much of the work has an island breeze, with elements of the sea, marine life, splendid skylines and the feelings that come from life on the island – freedom, passion, tranquility.
Art Space Winery Museum Art Gallery in Exo Gonia, Santorini, merges historical charm with modern art within a winery established in 1861. Revitalized in 1999, it has become a key site for art lovers, presenting a wide array of contemporary works from Greek and international artists. This venue celebrates the convergence of art and winemaking, offering a unique experience where visitors can enjoy world class art amidst Santorini’s stunning backdrop, enhanced by the tasting of fine wines made on-site.
As a creative nexus, Art Space fosters a sense of community and innovation, drawing inspiration from Santorini’s captivating landscapes. It not only showcases the latest in the art world but also honors the island’s winemaking heritage, famous around the world, linking the quality of its wines with the artistic excellence on display.
Tucked away on a picturesque cobblestone lane near Fira’s Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, Mati Art Gallery draws art connoisseurs who are in Santorini in search of inspiration not found elsewhere. Since the early ’90s, under the stewardship of Yorgos Kypris, an artist with roots in Cyprus and Italy, this spot has become a seminal venue on the island’s cultural map.
Showcasing works by both budding and renowned Greek artists, as well as Kypris’ mesmerizing art inspired by the sea, visitors can take a visual and sensory dive into the acclaimed ‘Fish Series’, alongside a vibrant selection of abstract art, extraordinary jewelry, and impressive metal-glass sculptures.
On Panagias Mirtidiotissis Street within the pedestrian-friendly New Mall, the gallery presents a diverse array of artworks, including paintings from both established and emerging artists. Manousos Chalkiadakis, a renowned ceramist, contributes with his leading-edge ceramic and sculpture works, while special and unique handmade jewelry by contemporary designers—who collaborate with museums and prestigious galleries—adorns the space. Moreover, the gallery presents a selection of art objects, gifts, souvenirs, and textiles, all crafted by creative artists who have maintained years of partnership with the gallery, underlining its dedication to enhancing daily life through art.
For those venturing to Santorini, t.k.place art gallery santorini’s curated selection includes small art objects, fabrics, original paintings, handmade ceramics, ceramic sculptures, and art lights, promising an enriching experience to all its visitors.
Located within a historic building from 1866 that once served as a winery, the Art of the Loom Galleries present is a splendid mishmash of the past and the present through its space and exhibits. Since its establishment in 2007, the space showcases a wide range of items mainly by exemplary Greek artists, such as oil paintings and sculptures, fused glass items, handcrafted jewelry and unique souvenirs. The gallery is particularly noted for its collection of fused glass art, with co-owner and artist Mrs Mary’s creations stealing the show.
Nearby, Art of the Loom’s Orion Art Gallery (+30 2286 021616), which opened 2017 next to the Megaron Gyzi Museum, presents a dynamic selection of works by prominent Greek artists, including sculptures and exquisite jewelry pieces, highlighting the diverse art forms of the region.
Located in Oia, Santorini, the Galanopoulos Art Gallery was founded in 1986 by Greek artists Stavros Galanopoulos and his wife Bella. Known for his sculptural works, Stavros made significant contributions to art displayed globally, including museums and private collections. Presently, the Galanopoulos gallery mainly features photography of Santorini stairs, streets, doors and other features, aleays with a play of light, on 100 percent cotton canvases by Stavros’ son, Giorgos Galanopoulos, and his wife, Toto. Original works by Stavros and Bella’s miniature paintings are also on show. The family aims to create an environment that brings their profound love of Satorini, experienced through their eyes from so many unique angles, to the wider world.
Alexia Amvrazi knows Greece like few others. She’s the Editor-in-Chief of the International edition of Travel.gr, the co-author of the guidebook ‘111 Places in Athens You Must Not Miss’, the former presenter of a 10-year daily radio show about Greek life at AIR FM and, for the past 15 years, the mastermind behind the always up-to-date Fodor’s Athens guide. She has a knack for recognizing beauty and potential and is a true citizen of the world.
