Opening of a new hall dedicated to Giorgos Gounaropoulos in the Sozopol Art Gallery
June 7, 2023

On Saturday, June 3, a special hall dedicated to Giorgos Gounaropoulos was inaugurated in the Sozopol Art Gallery, in Bulgaria, to permanently house a generous donation by the artist’s granddaughters, Maria and Despina Gounaropoulos, to the municipality of Sozopol.

The donation includes nine paintings, preparatory drawings, and some of the painter’s personal items. Thus, Gounaropoulos “returns” to his birthplace, close to the rocky seascapes of the Black Sea that he so much loved and praised in his painting.

The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by the presentation of a special publication focusing on the painter’s relationship with Sozopol, written by Art Historian Elisaveta Stantcheva.

On the same day, a statue of Gounaropoulos was unveiled in the old town of Sozopol, by the Mayor Tihomir Yanakiev and the artist’s great-granddaughter, Katerina Nezi. The statue was created by the Bulgarian sculptor Mitko Galabov.

Members of the artist’s family, from Greece and abroad, had the pleasure and honor to attend the events, and get to know the city that inspired the great artist. The staff of the Gounaropoulos Museum were also invited to participate, as they contributed significantly to the documentation of the material for the permanent exhibition and the accompanying publication.