History
From 1903–Present
Dionysios Karoussos (1903 - 1984)
Dionysius Karoussos was one of the last great Greek Nazarene painters. He studied at the School of Fine Arts under Professors D. Biskinis and S. Vikatos from 1930 to 1936. Karoussos' work was the last glimpse of Nazarene (pre-Raphaelite) religious painting in Greece, influenced by German romanticism of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, particularly by Nazarene painters such as Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld.
His work can be found in the Athens Cathedral, the Chrysospiliotissa church, St. Georgios Karytsi, St. Nicolas of Amalias Avenue, St. Thomas of Kypseli, St. Antonios of Patision, and many other locations. The Association of Greek Writers honoured Dionysius for his contribution to art.
Yannis Karoussos (1937-2013)
Yannis Karoussos was a monumental painter who specialized in large-scale frescoes in Orthodox Christian churches. He studied Fine Art under Yiannis Moralis at the Athens School of Fine Arts, and Byzantine Art under Fotis Kontoglou and his father Dionysius Karoussos. He received a scholarship from the Italian government in 1956, as well as from the Art Institute of Chicago (1961). The Greek Holy Synod honored him with the Golden Cross of St. Paul for his significant contribution to ecclesiastical art. Karoussos has participated in various solo and group shows in Athens, Paris, Chicago, New York, and Moscow. His enormous artwork includes several Orthodox churches. His two major projects, St. Panteleimon of Athens and St. Andrew of Patras defined him as the pioneer of post-Byzantine Art. He was commissioned to execute the painting of St. Theodore at Palatine Hill in Rome. His portfolio also includes the frescoes of the Church of St. Alexander and the Dormition of Theotokos in Faliro., Petrakis Monastery., The Holy Trinity at Keramikos, St. John of Vouliagmeni Av., St. Dionysius in Zante, and many others.
Dr. Katerina. I. Karoussos (1966 -)
Katerina Karoussos is an artist and a Doctor of Philosophy at the Planetary Collegium, Plymouth University, UK. Director of I-Node of the Planetary Collegium, the Greek node for doctoral and postdoctoral studies (School of Arts and Media) at the University of Plymouth, UK (2012-2016). During the years 1994-2003 she was the director and founding member of the Centre for the Study and Research of Fine and Applied Arts. From 2004 until 2015 she worked as a freelancer at the University of Athens, (Athens School of Fine Arts) in the Fresco Art Studio. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Athens and a Masters from Middlesex University in ‘Transdisciplinary working environments’. Karoussos has participated in many international conferences (ISEA, Aber, Dimea, Consciousness Reframed Series, etc.). She has published in many academic journals (Metaverse Creativity, Technoetic Arts, etc.). Apart from her artwork as a monumental fresco painter in Orthodox churches, she has participated in many international exhibitions (Athens, Japan, New York, Frankfurt, Montenegro, Cuba, etc.) She is the President of Karoussos Archives and works as a hybrid fresco painter.