“From London to Athens” at the SG Art Gallery of the St. George Lycabettus Hotel

By Katerina Parri

Inside the SG Art Gallery’s exhibition, marking its first collaboration with London’s Andipa Gallery, visitors encounter works by Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, Jean Dubuffet, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring, as well as three original works by Banksy.

“From London to Athens – Important Masters” is the exhibition currently hosted at the SG Art Gallery of the St. George Lycabettus Hotel, offering a rare opportunity to experience works by some of the greatest names in art, including Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Damien Hirst.

Within the bright space of the SG Art Gallery, visitors find themselves surrounded by museum-quality works from the distinguished Andipa Gallery in London, featuring paintings, drawings and signed editions by major 20th-century artists. This exhibition marks SG Art Gallery’s first collaboration with an international gallery, as curator Theodora Koumoundourou shared while guiding me through From London to Athens | Presenting Important Masters: Picasso, Warhol, Bacon, Hirst, Banksy and more.

Historically, the St. George Lycabettus has long been associated with art and culture in the city through initiatives such as the pioneering Rooms exhibitions by Gerasimos Kappatos, which it supported as a sponsor for over a decade. For more than twenty years, these projects transformed the hotel’s private spaces into artistic experiences. The hotel has also collaborated with international galleries, such as the Belgravia Gallery, which introduced lithographs by King Charles III to the Greek public.

Today, SG Art Gallery partners with Andipa Gallery, which brings decades of experience in placing important works of art internationally, while presenting pieces available for acquisition to collectors and art lovers in Greece.

The exhibition “From London to Athens – Important Masters” presents twenty works by different artists. Last summer, Theodora Koumoundourou met Acoris Andipa, who specializes in the secondary market, working with important editions as well as original works. He also collaborates with living artists such as Damien Hirst and Banksy. Koumoundourou was interested in exploring how the secondary market might function in Athens, and this encounter led to the development of the exhibition.

“We wanted to bring something that people would be interested to come and see,” she notes, “something you cannot encounter every day.”

Among the highlights are works by Jean Dubuffet, Henri Matisse and Keith Haring, as well as three original works by Banksy. This is a rare occurrence in Greece, with the Banksy works presented in a particularly unique room within the gallery, almost like a hidden surprise.

Banksy’s 3dRat (2010), mounted on the building’s original rocky wall, finds its perfect setting in a cave-like room that connects directly to the site itself, near the historic Dexameni of Kolonaki and the Hadrianic Aqueduct. It is undoubtedly one of the exhibition’s highlights, inviting visitors into Banksy’s world, where his sharply contemporary art dialogues with layers of history.

Theodora Koumoundourou guided me with enthusiasm, sharing the stories behind each work. She clarified that editions are far from simple prints, involving a complex and highly specialized process.

“All these editions by major artists are produced by highly specialized master printers,” she explains, “who use very specific techniques.”

For example, the butterflies in Damien Hirst’s works require at least a full day and a team of three people to create, using specialized tools to achieve the distinctive textures and the black outlines of each wing.

As the sun sets, the luminous white space of SG Art Gallery is filled with natural light, creating a warm and uplifting atmosphere. Upon entering, the works of Picasso, Warhol and Matisse immediately stand out.

The gallery includes two works by Andy Warhol: Siberian Tiger from Endangered Species (1983) and S (1) Dollar (1982). Although editions, they are particularly significant.

“This ‘Dollar’ belongs to his famous dollar series,” Koumoundourou explains, “but it is unique because this specific color combination has never appeared before, making it extremely valuable.”

Regarding the striking tiger, she recounts:
A wealthy couple concerned with environmental issues commissioned Warhol to create works depicting endangered animals. The result was a large series, including the Siberian tiger. While the series includes 150 editions, this particular piece is a special edition with a metallic finish, making it especially rare.

One of Koumoundourou’s favorite works is Jean Dubuffet’s Pair of Figures (1972). She shares its story:

Dubuffet had been commissioned by Renault to create a sculpture park above a factory. However, structural issues led to a dispute, and Renault sued the artist. A court-appointed architect eventually proved Dubuffet right, leading to his acquittal. In gratitude, Dubuffet gifted this work to the architect, and it remained in the family for many years.

Andipa Gallery’s debut in Greece, through its collaboration with SG Art Gallery at the St. George Lycabettus, brings together exceptional works. Visiting the exhibition is a unique opportunity to stand among Hirst’s kaleidoscopic butterflies, the lines of Picasso and Matisse, Warhol’s iconic imagery, Bacon’s intense psychological figures, Haring’s playful visual language, and Banksy’s globally recognizable, sharply critical works.