Alekos Fassianos, the esteemed Greek painter, died on Sunday at the age of 86.
According to AP, Fassianos died at his home after a long period of illness. His death is attributed to natural causes. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. Fassianos had his last major exhibition in 2004 in Athens.
Alekos Fassianos was born on December 16, 1935, in Athens, Greece. Between 1955 and 1960, he studied painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts. After his first exhibition in Athens, Fassianos went to Paris on a French scholarship. For the next 35 years, Paris was his home.
Alekos Fassianos was deeply inspired by Ancient Greek mythology. Many of his works drew inspiration from Greek mythos. Fassianos also delved into contemporary art style, working on Greek popular art sensibilities. Some of his works also drew inspiration from Byzantine art, though he chose bright colours instead of the traditional subtle colouring. Apart from being an accomplished painter, he was also a violinist and did lithography.
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Over his long career, Alekos Fassianos came to be regarded as one of the most prominent Greek artists. He was made a commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, as well as an officer of the Legion of Honor by the French government. He was also greatly celebrated in Greece, from state honours to public murals. His works were widely exhibited across Europe and Latin America.
