Moralis Yiannis

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. On the 13th of November 2019, Moralis' "Full Moon M" sold for 418,584 € on a Bonhams auction in London.