Kostis Velonis lives and works in Athens. He holds an MRes in Humanities and Cultural Studies from London Consortium (Birkbeck College, ICA, AA, Tate). He studied Arts Plastiques/ Esthétiques at Université Paris 8 (D.E.A). He earned his PhD from the Department of Architecture, N.T.U.A University of Athens. Currently Velonis is Associate Professor at Athens School of Fine Arts. Velonis has participated in exhibitions and residencies Internationally.

Kostis Velonis’ sculptures explore the comic and awkward condition of the object as subject, implying allegoric, everyday narratives and mythological plots. Throughout his work, the emphasis is placed on the moral implications of failure and clumsiness caused by daydreaming and the reality that frustrates it. The context of this reading is articulated through a systematic vocabulary of forms and materials that refer to modernity via architectural typologies such as ancient Greek theatre structures (stage, stands, orchestra), the politics of the podium, avant-garde propaganda booths and the subpolitics of domesticity.

Selected Shows ( 2022-2015) 

2020  “199”  DESTE Foundation  Project Space, Hydra, Ghost Beggar , Kalfayan Galleries , Athens /2019 «Landlord Colors: On Art, Economy, and Materiality” Cranbrook Art Museum, Michigan, «Life Without Tragedy», “Democracy is Coming” Onassis Festival / Public Theater, Astor Place, NYC, 2018 The Value of Freedom, Belvedere 21, Vienna, Austria “Paroikia”, Company Gallery, NYC,  “Refusing to Be Stil”, 21, 39, 5th Edition, Jeddah , A Puppet Sun, NEON -City Project,  Athens, “Precision German Craftsmanship”  Akademie Schloss Solitude,  Stuttgart  (2017), documenta 14, Fridericianum, Kassel , “Urgent Conversations” , Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), Antwerp – National museum of Contemporary Art  (ΕΜΣΤ), Athens , “Memory of Revolution”, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, (2016) “Part Company” Casa Maauad,  Mexico City  “This probably will not work”, Lothringer 13-Städtische Kunsthalle München, Μunich; “Super superstudio”, PAC, Milan; 2015  “Adventures of the Black Square: Abstract Art and Society 1915 –2015”, Whitechapel Gallery, London; “Au nom de le Corbusier”, Maison Spiteris, Athens, “Mount the Air”  Kalfayan Galleries, Athens , “ The Theater of the World”, Museo Tamayo, Mexico City; “This is Not My Beautiful House”, Kunsthalle Athena, “No Country for Young Men”, BOZAR, Brussels;  “Direct Democracy” ,  MUMA,  Melbourne. 2014: “No Country for Young Men”, BOZAR, Brussels  2014 “Tout Feu Tout Flamme”, Lefebvre & Fils, Παρίσι  /2013 “Direct Democracy”, MUMA /Monash University Museum of Art, Μελβούρνη 2013 “HELL AS PAVILION”, Palais de Tokyo, Παρίσι / 2012 “Newtopia. The State of Human Rights” Mechelen Cultural Centre, Mechelen, Βέλγιο/ “Material and Culture”, MAK Center for Art and Architecture-Schindler House, Los Angeles/«The promise of Happiness”, Signal Center for Contemporary Art, Malmo, Σουηδία /2011 “Melanchotopia”, Witte de With  Center for Contemporary Art  Rotterdam / 3η Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art , 2011 “An Elusive Object of Art”, Dana Charkasi Gallery , Vienna 2010 “The Marathon Marathon  project”, Acropolis Museum, 2010 “Politics of Art», National Museum of Contemporary Art, Art / “Pastoral Dreams in the Days of Bankruptcy, Dana Charkasi Gallery, Vienna/ 2010

CATALOGUES

PUBLISHED TEXTS

Email: kvelonis@asfa.gr