Transforming an artist’s home into a museum
A small museum was founded last summer in the warm and hospitable house of the late artist Spyros Vassileiou, and contains a satisfactory number of works from the rich legacy he left behind. The artist spent a large part of his life at 5A Webster Street, just a street below the Herod Atticus Theater. That is where he met his wife, who was a neighbor, and incorporated a studio into the house, where he painted his well-known Athenian urban landscapes. Twenty years after Vassileiou’s death, this emotionally charged venue provides a window into the artist’s personality for all visitors, who can admire his easel, his books, decorative objects he had selected, as well as view 60 of the 6,000 overall number of his works. A visit to Vassileiou’s house is a small journey into the life of one of Greece’s more important artists. One can admire some of his early paintings, such as the «Children of Parnassos» which dates to 1927; famous works of his with which he represented Greece at the Venice Biennale; his engravings; pre-sketches for the paintings he did for the Church of Aghios Dionysios and sketches for book illustrations and theater sets. Few changes were needed to transform the house into a museum, so the house’s pleasant atmosphere and comfort have not been affected in the least. Activities A cafe is situated in the old dining room and there is also a museum shop. Various activities have been scheduled for the following months, including educational programs for children. The Spyros Vassileiou Atelier is situated at 5A Webster, Acropolis, tel 210.923.1502. It is open Mondays to Fridays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Admission costs 4 euros, 2 euros for students.
