Mar 30: Theophilos: The Life and Works of a Major Greek Folk Painter, with Christos Dikeakos

Lyre-player from Lemnos © Museum of Works by Theophilos

Join us March 30, 2026, at 7:30pm, at 4500 Arbutus Street - Upper Hall.

Renowned local artist Christos Dikeakos will present on Theophilos Hatzimichail. Born in Vareia, Mytilene, in 1870 and died in 1934, Theophilos is most important folk painter and a major contributor in Modern Greek art. Theophilos’ life was very hard and his works, individual paintings and murals in tavernas, were mostly regarded as curiosities of little value until a fellow islander and well know international modern publisher and critic, Stratis Elefteriadis (known in France as Teriade) befriended Theophilos and brought him national and international recognition posthumously. In 1961 Theophilos was exhibited in the Louvre as a genuine folk painter of Greece and in 1965 Teriade donated 86 paintings to the Municipality of Lesvos, along with a building that is the Theophilos Museum in Vareia.