WOMEN. Greek Female Artists in the Alpha Bank Collection – Exhibition catalogue: Corfu, 2024

What the publication includes

The publication features 46 representative works created by 41 Greek female artists that are represented in the Alpha Bank Art Collection, over a period from the late 19th century to the beginning of the 21st.

Its aim is to showcase women’s contribution to every aspect of artistic creation, despite the obstacles and discrimination they faced over time. At the same time, the publication underlines the multifaceted and demanding role of women today.

The catalogue of a major exhibition

The publication accompanies the exhibition “WOMEN. Greek Female Artists in the Alpha Bank Collection” organised by the Alpha Bank Art Collection at the Banknote Museum of Ionian Bank in Corfu, from 08.10.2024 to 07.09.2025.

On the occasion of the exhibition, the publication WOMEN. Greek Female Artists in the Alpha Bank Collection featuring 226 works by the 145 Greek female artists represented in the Alpha Bank Collection is also available.

The publication’s structure follows the organisation of the exhibition, whose aim was to set female artists’ accomplishments within the broader context of the educational, social and political achievements of each era. As a result, the publication is divided into 5 thematic sections:

• 1st section: Women in the world of art – The first steps (late 19th – early 20th century)
  The section covers the period from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, when women, who for had centuries engaged with art only on an amateur level, took their first steps as professional artists. It was then that they dared and achieved to get professional artistic training from a respected but strictly male-dominated institution, the Athens School of Fine Arts, and soon gained a place in the public arena. It includes works by: Eleni Prosalenti, Thalia Flora-Karavia, Athina Tarsouli, Aglaia Papa, Eurydice Costopoulos, Charikleia Alexandridou-Stefanopoulou, Koula Bekiari, Isabella Charbouri, Ira Economidou, Rea Leontaritou, Nelly's.
  
  
• 2nd section: Painting – From representation to abstraction
  Female artists that in the 2nd half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st established their presence in the artistic world and shifted from representation to abstraction are presented. It includes works by: Zenika Petroutsi, Daphne Costopoulos, Annie Costopoulos, Maria Roussea, Chryssa Romanou, Niki Kanagini, Opy Zouni, Vana Ksenou, Marigo Kassi, Irini Gonou.
  
  
• 3rd section: Printmaking – Traditional techniques and experimentation with new media
  Greek female engravers are presented, who, in addition to traditional techniques, experimented with other media, enriching the art of printmaking. It includes works by: Vaso Katraki, Elli Mourelou-Orfanou, Zizi Makri, Loukia Maggiorou, Louisa Montesantou, Iris Drakouli, Mariora Exarchopoulou, Rena Tzolaki, Tonia Nikolaidi, Vicky Tsalamata, Aria Komianou, and Dina Kotsiou.
  
  
• 4th section: Sculpture
  The art of sculpture and installations is represented in the exhibition as well as its accompanying catalogue by 2 works by the emblematic sculptress Chryssa (Chryssa Vardea).
  
  
• 5th section: Contemporary art – Revamping the visual arts landscape
  The section takes us to the new millennium that brings about new boundaries and challenges. Now, modern painters are called upon to play multiple roles and often make use of technology in their creations. It includes works by: Natalia-Aikaterini Kerkyra, Daphne Costopoulos, Gina Delassouda, Aristea Charoniti, Penny Gkeka, Natassa Poulantza, and Alexandra Kyritsi.

Edited by: Despina Tsourgianni, Georgia Mazi
Publisher: Alpha Bank
Place and time: Athens, 2024
Dimensions: 21 x 29 cm
Pages: 64
Cover type: Paperback
Greek ISBN: 978-618-5072-56-8
English ISBN: 978-618-5072-57-5