Coming Soon: Ancient Abstraction
The Embassy of Greece to the United States Presents
Sculptor George Petrides’ New Exhibition Ancient Abstractions
Six monumental works that explore the history of abstraction in art and its influence on contemporary sculpture will be exhibited at the Embassy
Washington, D.C. – (May 2025) – The Embassy of Greece in the United States presents Ancient Abstraction: An Exploration of Abstract Sculpture from the Neolithic to the Modern. The exhibition will take place in the Embassy’s exhibition space and will be on display daily in May 2024.
Sculptor George Petrides said: “I am honored to present a new collection of six works, this one inspired by and paying homage to the long lineage of abstract sculpture. I’m honored to be back at the Embassy, helping them to celebrate Greek art both ancient and contemporary and aid in their enthusiastic efforts of cultural diplomacy.” Petrides’ previous exhibition, Hellenic Heads, launched its worldwide tour at the Embassy in May 2022 and continues to travel to venues in Europe. In the past year it has visited Venice, Paris and Berlin.
Petrides’ process begins with a rigorous research process, including archaeological artifacts, academic sources, and historical photographs. He began each piece in Ancient Abstraction by studying a sculptural precedent, each from a different period of history:
Stone figurines from the Neolithic period (6,500 to 3,200 BC)
Cycladic Heads from the Cycladic period (3,100 to 1,000 BC)
Lady of Auxerre from the Archaic period (800 to 480 BC)
Torso of Athena from the Classical period (480 to 323 BC)
Belvedere Torso from the Hellenistic period (323 to 30 BC)
Mosaic of Theodora from the Byzantine period (300 AD to 1453 AD)
Mother and Child by Ioannis Pappas from the Modern period (1900 AD to Present)
Following the model of Hellenic Heads, Ancient Abstraction will be a traveling exhibition.