Chrysanthos Panas, Art Collector
26.03.2025
For the love of Greece
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”
In the case of Panas, who coined the name “Athens Riviera” and proceeded to turning it into a brand, the ways are just as multitudinous and soulful as Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetic love dedication to her husband.
He too penned an ode to his country, in the shape of a hefty coffee table volume, Greek Islands, complete with fabulous imagery and quotes by other prominent Greeks who sing the beauty, history and culture of their country.
Panas is refreshingly self-deprecating when he talks about his collection (his favourite quote is “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly”).
He is also mindful of the awe-inspiring roll call of iconic art patrons his country has produced: Ioannou, Niarchos, Goulandris, Daskalopoulos, Panagopoulos… to name just a few.
Ambitious in equal measure, he talks about staging new art events from his foothold on the very same Athens Riviera that he has turned into a destination in its own right.
Gilded Youth Beginnings
Chrysanthos Panas comes from some pedigree. The family traces its origins back to Cephalonia and Spain, and is well-heeled by all accounts (his father was the quintessential trust fund baby).
His parents did instil in him and his brother, who is his business partner, a love of culture and the arts generally. They cultivated and entertained actors, musicians and writers, and Panas’ grandmother was an artist herself.
His first foray into running business came very early on, he and his older brother Spyros were tasked with running a bar at their local Nautical Club in Vouliagmeni, a wealthy suburb of Athens. The venture, originally intended to keep the teenage duo out of trouble, prospered and gave them a taste for developing larger hospitality projects.
The Athens Riviera is born
Moving further along the coast from Vouliagmeni, they leased a large piece of land directly over the beach in Varkiza, offering spectacular views of the entire coastline.
A leap of faith, by all accounts…
<<We weren’t sure people would come this far out of Athens, but they did>>
The Island Resort Athens Riviera was born as an event venue and an art gallery, cementing the reputation of the brothers as visionaries.
Panas has since reinvented himself as a standard bearer for Greek hospitality, opening the historic restaurant Athénée in the center of Athens. The Panas Group also owns the Foyer of the Pallas Theatre. His venues regularly attract international A-listers, adding the prerequisite stardust sprinkle to the Athens Riviera brand.
They also operated one of the first lifestyle member clubs in Greece, Salon de Bricolage, that was actually an art hub organising art exhibitions of many prominent Greek contemporary artists, book presentations, and art lectures, inviting famous artists such as Marina Abramovic and Jack Pierson.
The Art collecting bug
Like most collectors, he caught the bug early on, as an adolescent, buying his very first art work because he fell in love with it. He went on to acquire pieces primarily by Greek contemporary artists, from Greek art galleries such as Zoumboulakis, The Intermission, Nees Morfes, Rebbecca Camhi, The Breeder, Eleftheria Tseliou and others.
Collecting is a self-perpetuating, addictive passion that starts chaotically and almost always gets harnessed by an art advisor who catalogues and organises the body of works, and then gives it direction and purpose on behalf of the collector.
In Panas’ case, the purpose is stated from the outset of the conversation:
<<My objective is to be a patron of emerging Greek artists and give them maximum exposure>>
A neon art work, “Greeting”, by Stephen Antonakos, based on the Island Resort swimming pool, takes a place of pride inside the main reception area of the Private House.
In a time-honoured tradition, some of the works in his collection have been auctioned off, allowing him to purchase other works, and giving a proportion of the proceeds to a children’s charity.
Today, most of the works in the Panas collection are stored in a purpose-built warehouse in Athens. Many are displayed at his house in Vouliagmeni and his apartment in Kolonaki. Some are at the Island Resort villas and others at his Athènèe restaurant.
The collection includes Greek artists such as Takis, Chryssa, Stephen Antonakos, Yiannis Tsarouchis, Yiannis Moralis, Alekos Fassianos , Yiannis Varelas, Kostis Velonis, Apostolos Georgiou.
More recently, the collection has started evolving, with acquisitions of international artists, such as Georg Bazelitz, Stanley Whitney, James Turrell, Louise Bonnet, Gregory Crewdson, Kon Trubkovich, Marina Abramovic and others, through established galleries: Gagosian, White Cube, Pace, as well as through auction houses. Art historian Mrs Anna Chatzinassiou acts as an advisor and Related Art was set up as curators’ tool for the purpose of lending works to exhibition spaces.
Athens Riviera: the future
The Panas Hospitality Group is planning the construction of a small number of self-contained studios on the grounds of the Varkiza site.
Chrysanthos Panas himself is hoping to launch a new international art event, “to help Athens evolve as a vibrant art capital”. One might argue the city is already that, with a number of annual events, such as the Dakis Joannou three day extravaganza between Athens and Hydra, as well as major galleries opening spaces there in the last few years. But the ostensibly untamed energy of the Panas brothers can lift it to new heights.
BB:Your definition of an outstanding individual?
CP: <<A person who has a vision not just for his personal growth but contributing to the growth and evolution of the society>>