MATAROA AWARDS 2025

OPEN CALL

The 8th edition of Art-Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair (May 15-18/ 2025) and the Cultural Society of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece (PEEBE) are calling for young artists, up to 33 years of age, to participate in the MATAROA AWARDS.

Aiming to promote new creators and emerge the artistic potential of the country, MATAROA AWARDS are organized as a competition with thematic exhibition of top 10 artist’s artworks. After this open call process and *portfolio submissions, all the candidates will be evaluated by a special 5-member committee. From all the applicants, only 10 young artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their artwork in a special designed space, for free during 8th Art-Thessaloniki Fair.

Committee and public will vote among the selected 10 artists to select the best participation. First winner is awarded with a cash prize of 1,500 euros and 750 euros for the second and third nominees. Also, the remaining seven selected artists, will receive 500 euros each. Additionally, the 10 selected artists will be presented on the websites of Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair, www.art-thessaloniki.gr and the Cultural Society www.peebe.gr| www.culturalsociety.gr, while the thematic edition MATAROA will host a special tribute for the first prize winner in the printed and electronic format www.mataroa.gr.

Art Thessaloniki, an exiting meeting point for galleries, artists and art lovers.

Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair, which has gained the acceptance of the art world internationally as an institution of enduring success presenting a significant and diverse range of modern and contemporary artworks, celebrates its first decade (2015-2025) of contribution to the international art scene. We are ready once again to welcome galleries and collectors from Greece, the Balkans, Europe, Asia and the USA to TIF-HELEXPO at the 8th edition of Art Thessaloniki on 15-18/05/2025, which will take place as always in Thessaloniki. In addition to its long historical journey,Thessaloniki is a multicultural contemporary city, with three vibrant Universities (Aristotle University , PAMAK, International University), a business and commercial centre, known for its festivals, lively cultural life and excellent gastronomic identity.

Art Thessaloniki Fair has been established as one of the most important artistic events in Greece and the Balkans, gaining international recognition for its contribution to the promotion of art. Firmly committed to creating a global dialogue, the fair is a meeting point for artists, collectors, galleries and art critics from around the world, fostering cultural exchange and innovation in the field of visual arts. A decisive step for the further development of the Art Thessaloniki Fair was the invitation of the art director, Pantelis Tsatsis, to participate in the panel on the subject of international Art Fairs in the context of the Sofia Art Fair, which took place from 3 to 6 October 2024. This participation paved the way for new collaborations and exchanges with central art scenes, such as Sofia Art Fair and MoBU Bucharest Fair, strengthening cultural interaction in the area. The main purpose of these collaborations is to strengthen the dialogue between local artistic communities, to highlight the contemporary artistic production of the Balkans and to create joint initiatives that highlight the importance of art at an international level, promoting artistic creation and interculturalism.

As a platform for culture, art trade and communication, Art Thessaloniki Fair promotes the broadening of artistic interest, presenting important museum collections and recognized artists proposed by galleries. Supporting young artists up to 33 years old, we award a total of ten prizes, while the Independent Artists project that will take place for the 3rd year, is a great opportunity for independent artists to exhibit their works in order to access galleries, curators and collectors. In addition, Art Thessaloniki Fair provides free parking, wi-fi, insurance, 3m high walls, LED lighting (1 LED/4m), 2 colour pages in the catalogue, promotion on our website and in the media, 5 free catalogues, 10 invitations for 2 persons, 5 free entry cards. We invite you to take part in our 8th edition, (15-18 /05/ 2025), which is now considered by the international artistic - business community as the most effective mechanism for maximizing artistic, investment and economic results in the field of visual art.

We are looking forward to meeting you then!
Pantelis Tsatsis, Art Director

Εγκαινιάστηκε η 7η Art Thessaloniki Κέντρο του σύγχρονου πολιτισμού η Θεσσαλονίκη

Κέντρο του σύγχρονου πολιτισμού χαρακτήρισε τη Θεσσαλονίκη ο υφυπουργός Πολιτισμού, κ. Χρίστος Δήμας, από το βήμα των εγκαινίων της 7ης Art Thessaloniki, τονίζοντας πως στόχος είναι χρόνο με τον χρόνο να αναπτύσσεται ακόμα περισσότερο.

The 7th Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair is an exciting journey in the world of art, May 23-26 at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre

80 galleries and projects from around the world

Internationally acclaimed OPY ZOUNI is this year’s Honoured Artist

Thessaloniki is marching to the beat of the 7th Art Thessaloniki from May 23-26, with the exhibition being dynamically present for yet another year in the arts world of Greece and the broader region.

Honored Artist 2024 - OPY ZOUNI (1941-2008)

The space of contemporary art in Greece from the 60s onwards is "liberated" from the trends of realism, but also from the early aspects of modernism, offering ground to abstraction and its various versions. The pressure of materials in painting, the rise of subjectivism, as well as the obsession with its fundamental components brought about a creative renewal based on color, fluctuating shapes, pure geometric forms, scarce raw materials (creative memory of the post-Montrian era) and generally in the optimistic atmosphere, after the depressing period of the second world war.

Read more

HELLENIC DIASPORA FOUNDATION

Group exhibition by the Hellenic Diaspora Foundation

The "Hellenic Diaspora" Foundation, which for years has been taking care of the enormous artistic contribution of Greek artists in the international centers of the world, Paris, New York, London, etc. presents at Art Thessaloniki a section of sculptures and paintings declaring its quality and historical value of its collections. Monumental works both in size and importance are exhibited signatured by Takis, Peter Voulkos, Loukas Samaras, Jean Xceron, Chryssa, Theodoros Stamos, Kostas Koulentianos, Philolaos etc., which map a history of the modern, but which carries a completely Greek sign, Odysseus' journey outside the rules and boundaries.

The female figure in Art. An artificial intelligence approach.

The woman comes to life in the artworks of the Municipal Gallery. This year's presentation focuses on the female form as depicted in the visual works of her collection. For this purpose, approximately 20 works were selected to be exhibited at the stand, with a wide range of techniques, such as oil painting, watercolor, mixed media, engraving, photography, painted collage, etc.