Famous Greek painter Alexos Fasianos dies at 86

Alexos Fasianos, one of the most important contemporary Greek painters, died in his home after a long struggle with illness, at the age of 86.

Vasianos was born in Athens on December 16, 1935. He studied violin at the Athens Institute of Painting and Drawing at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1955 to 1960.

Shortly after his first exhibition in the early 1960s, he went to Paris on a French government scholarship to study lithography at the École des Beaux-Arts. He ended up staying in Paris for 35 years.

Although some of his paintings, especially the early ones, were in a contemporary style, he was mostly inspired by Greek folk art and ancient Greek mythology.

He also drew inspiration from Byzantine themes, although his color paintings have nothing to do with Byzantine austerity.

In addition to drawing and lithography, he worked as a book artist, costume design, theater set and sculpture.

Fasianos has been widely celebrated in Greece, where many of his works adorn public spaces, including a mural in the Athens subway station.

He was awarded the Order of Arts and Letters and the Legion of Honor in France, and his work has been widely exhibited in Europe and Latin America.

His last exhibition was in 2004 in Athens.