Yiannis Moralis

Yiannis Moralis was an important Greek visual artist and part of the so-called "Generation of the '30s". Born in Arta, Greece, 1916 - 2009. Lived and worked in Athens. From the age of 15 he studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts under Umbertos Argyros and Konstantinos Parthenis. In 1936 he received a grant from this school to study for a year in Rome. From the 1970s, he moved from the realistic depictions of the human form of his earlier works towards a geometric stylization incorporating curves. Over the years, Moralis was also involved with creating theatrical set and costume designs for the Greek National Theatre and the Greek National Ballet; illustrating poetic works by Odysseas Elytis and Giorgos Seferis; and decorating architectural works such as the façade of the Athens Hilton, the Metro-Station "Panepistimiou" and the Athens Central Station. In 1965 he was decorated by King Constantine II with the Order of the Phoenix.