Greek artist makes American debut in major Chicago exhibition
The first American retrospective of Yannis Tsarouchis, one of the greatest Greek painters of the 20th century, is now on view at Chicago’s Wrightwood 659 art space, through July 31 only.
This expansive exhibition features some 200 works, including paintings, photographs, and set designs from the collection of the Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation in Athens, as well as public and private collections.
Yannis Tsarouchis was born in 1910 in the Greek port city of Piraeus and educated at the School of Fine Arts in Athens. He began painting at an early age and earned his living as a set and costume designer for the theater. In 1938, at the age of 28, he had his first solo exhibition in Athens. After serving in the Greek army on the Albanian front in the Second World War, he returned to painting and working in the theater, gaining an international reputation. During Greece’s military dictatorship (1967–1974), Tsarouchis went into exile in Paris to return to Athens, where he lived until he died in 1989.
Yannis Tsarouchis: Dancing in Real Life is on view Fridays and Saturdays (plus Thursdays in June) through July 31, 2021, at Wrightwood 659, located in Lincoln Park at 659 Wrightwood Avenue. Face masks and appropriate social distancing are required. Tickets are $15, and reservations are required. Visit https://wrightwood659.org for more information.
Image credit: Yannis Tsarouchis, Sailor in the Sun, 1968-1970, oil on canvas, 223.5 x 104 cm.
© Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation.
