April’s picks – best exhibitions in Athens
From the global to the local, this month’s recommendations celebrate canonical art at the highest level, positioning Athens as it should be—a European metropolis becoming a truly international contemporary art hub.
This month, we will experience a major solo exhibition of the one and only Barbara Kruger at the SNFCC Cultural Center; three retrospective solo exhibitions at EMST that expand academic research on the history of Greek art; a large, impressive solo exhibition of one of the most prominent contemporary Greek voices at the Athens City Gallery; and, as a bonus, a recommendation of an exhibition by an artist we love.
Additionally, there are exciting new tours at the Kolonaki galleries and the National Gallery.
Enjoy this month in Athens, and don’t forget to reach out if you’d like a more in-depth tour with our team.
See you soon!
Shani Werner & the ATHENS ART TOURS Team
Three solo exhibitions at EMST
The National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST) is a national institution dedicated to promoting modern and contemporary Greek art, while situating it within an international dialogue of contemporary practice. This mission is realized through large thematic exhibitions that often include global artists. Another key aspect of EMST’s work is presenting retrospective exhibitions of Greek artists from different periods. These retrospectives provide public access to the artists’ work and foster scholarly research, addressing gaps in academic study. In this way, EMST fulfills the essential role of a national contemporary art institution.
Currently, the museum is opening three solo exhibitions of post–World War II Greek artists, each connecting local production with international developments:
Jani Christou: Enantiodromia – conceptual and sound art; Niki Kanagini: Ode to Things – feminist and 1970s practices; Stathis Logothetis: From Earth to Earth – land art and performative material experimentation.
Together, these exhibitions highlight EMST’s ongoing commitment to documenting and critically engaging with Greek art in a global context.
2 April – 8 Νovember 2026 National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (EMST)
Kallirrois Avenue & Amvr. Frantzi Street, 11743 Athens
More info
Barbara Kruger: Untitled (Pride and Contempt), SNFCC
There is no doubt that Athens is becoming a significant hub for contemporary art, befitting such an important capital in this part of Europe. Major names continue to exhibit across the city in a variety of venues from private galleries to public spaces and historic museums.
Within this context, the SNFCC is doing an amazing job curating exhibitions of groundbreaking women artists. Immediately following the stunning installation of Simone Leigh, comes a major exhibition of the one and only Barbara Kruger.
Kruger is considered one of the most important American artists and a key figure in the “Pictures Generation” and the feminist art movement. At the impressive SNFCC, she will present a large-scale, site-specific installation featuring a new series of posters in Greek, displayed along the Canal and in the venue’s entrance plaza. Truly exciting!
Ongoing until November 1 2026 at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), 364 Syngrou Ave, Kallithea 176 74, Athens
More info
Giorgos Tserionis: What Happens AFTER, Athens City Gallery. curator: Matina Tsigakou
Visiting Giorgos Tserionis’ studio is a truly memorable experience. Known for his versatility, he works across paintings, sculptures, clay, objects, prints, and spatial installations, yet always manages to create a cohesive visual language. Every corner of his studio reveals the intensity and imagination behind his creative process.
His latest solo exhibition at Athens City Gallery fills the entire space and delves into homo urbanus – the urban human, living and breathing the metropolis in all its complexity, from light to dark. With a keen sense of aesthetics, Tserionis transforms the fragments and remnants of the city into remarkable sculptures and installations. The result is a visually stunning and thought-provoking exhibition – an absolute must for anyone curious about contemporary art.
Ongoing until May 10 2026 at Athens City Gallery, Building B, Leonidou & Myllerou, Metaxourgeio, 10436, Athens
More info
And one extra recommendation
Leon Michail “Beyond the Landscape”, solo exhibition
Leon Michail is an artist we’ve been following for quite some time. We’ve visited his studio with our groups, and we truly love his work. Each new exhibition of his feels like a special moment for us.
Michail’s paintings are the kind of works that ask for a deeper gaze — time, focus, and an open heart. At first glance, they may appear almost entirely black, but once you begin to “understand” them, you discover extraordinary fields of color. It’s absolutely mesmerizing.
Ongoing until May 2 2026 at a.antonopoulou art gallery, 20 Aristofanous St., Athens
More info
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