Giannis Stefanidis

Painter, illustrator, and author, Giannis Stefanidis was born in 1921 in the USSR. He studied at the Athens School of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Biskinis, Argyros, Parthenis, and theoretically with Papantoniou and Prevelakis. He participated in the National Resistance during the Occupation and created many drawings that circulated illegally. Later, he produced political sketches for newspapers and, while in exile, painted in the places of his exile. Subsequently, for 15 years, he worked in unrelated jobs to make a living, without losing touch with art. Alongside painting, he engaged in graphic arts and book illustrations, mainly for children's books, such as the 18-volume series of Greek Mythology (published by "Sigma"), the books of Penelope Delta, among others. Seeking other forms of expression, he also made music with D. Fampas - classical guitar - and recently began writing. He participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, as well as in the Qingdao Print Biennale (China, 2000), Acqui Terme (Italy, 2003), and Beijing (China, 2003), the 1st Balkan Ex Libris Biennale in Belgrade (2002), and in the International Ex Libris Exhibitions in Chamaliers (France, 2003), Saint Niklaas (Belgium, 2003), and Athens (published by "Agyra", exhibition-competition, 2003). He authored the books: "Painting in Exile" (Modern Era, 1988), "Love Goes to School" (narrative, Sigma, 1995), "Rolling Stone" (novel, Sigma, 1998), "The Elixir of Love" (short stories, Sigma, 1999). He was honored with an illustration distinction (Mencione) by the European organization Pier Paolo Vergerio for his book "Argonauts" from the "Greek Mythology" series, in Padua, Italy, in 1989, with the First Prize for Illustration by the Circle of the Greek Children's Book (IBBY) for the engravings in his novel "Rolling Stone," in 1999, with a distinction at the Qingdao Print Biennale, China, in 2000, and with the First Prize for Short Story by the Society of Greek Writers, in 2003. He is a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and the Society of Greek Writers.