- Selected works
- Cults of Personality
- Untitled brulotti
- In Guns We Trust
- Ellinikó
- Art deco houses of Athens
- Me, myself and I
- Love&Money
- Logical revolt
- In camera
- We are all made of Stars
- Grey, grey, grey is the colour of the day
- Majestic People in Outstanding Places
- 7 aphorisms
- Divine Pleasures
- Love is an Elephant
- Dress and sofa
- Performances
Cults of Personality
[SiC] Space for International Cooperation, Athens, Thissio
21.12.2024 - 2.2.2025
Portraiture has long been a medium for constructing identity—a mirror where society's desires and ideals are reflected. Yet, these mirrors often demand conformity, perpetuating norms, conservatism, and structures of power. What if, instead, those mirrors were shattered or boldly painted over? In Cults of Personality, artist Panos Balomenos challenges the conventions of portrait painting, offering an evocative and radical alternative: an iconography of love—for the untamed, the authentic, and the unapologetically true self.
Balomenos’ work celebrates heroines whose lives exemplify charisma, solidarity, and defiance. Through his portraits, he elevates individuals often excluded or misrepresented in the arts, dismantling traditional artistic canons to center those who embody resistance and courage. His paintings provoke viewers to move beyond mere aesthetic admiration, urging deeper reflection on representation, visibility, and belonging.
Rendered in a strikingly realistic style, Balomenos’ portraits capture not only the physical presence of his subjects but also the weight of their lived struggles. His subjects — such as Thekla Tselepi, Eleni Mylona, Ioanna Kourtovik or Ivi Keserli among others — are individuals at the vanguard of intersectional battles against fascism and patriarchy. These are not static icons but active participants in movements fueled by personal courage, humor, and resourcefulness.
The exhibition weaves connections between these figures, situating them within broader social and political contexts. By doing so, Balomenos paints more than faces; he illustrates the networks of solidarity that sustain resistance and build collective hope. Cults of Personality invites artists, enthusiasts, and collectors alike to reimagine portraiture—not as a reinforcement of power but as a vibrant medium for storytelling, empathy, and transformation.
Join us in exploring this powerful collection of works that redefine identity, community, and the role of art in shaping a more just and inclusive world.
Text and exhibition curated by Georgos Papadopoulos
Special thanks to Kone Foundation.
Eleni Mylonas is a visual artist living and working between New York, U.S.A. and Greece.
The landscape in the background is from the archeological site of Kastri, the northernmost point of Syros island and the view to Andros and Tinos islands in Cyclades, Greece.
Dimitra Galani is a singer and song writer from Greece.
Her photograph is taken from the Greek Playboy magazine, issued in May 1987.
Hellenikon Air Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base located in Athens, Greece. After its closure, it was redeveloped into Ellinikon International Airport, which stoped operating in 2001.
Antoinetta Angelidi is a pioneer of avant-garde cinema in Greece.
The building is situated in Klafthmonos Square in the centre of Athens, Greece.
Thekla Tselepi is a Greek radio producer that has participated in various music bands as a vocalist and percussionist.
Karaiskáki square is situated in the very centre of the Greek capital.
The Monument to the Fallen Aviators Ikaros, a modern art metal statue on a pyramid base was created in 1987 by the sculptor Evángelos Moustákas and the architect Ioánnis Moustákas.
Ioanna Kourtovik is a lawyer from Greece.
She is well known for her work and support on human rights.
Eve is a trans sex workers´ activist and writer from Greece.
The building is situated at Kypseli district in the center of Athens.
Paola Revenioti (born in Greece) is a trans artist, poet, photographer, publisher and activist that has made a living as a prostitute.