Large Head of Medusa

PPS-29Archaeological Museum of Serifos

Open image

Serifos, Greece

Large Head of Medusa

Archaeological Museum of Serifos

Historical referencePerseus and Medusa · Iron and copper mined on Serifos since antiquity

Serifos, in the Cyclades, occupies an important place in ancient Greek mythology: Perseus was sent from the island to bring back Medusa’s head. On his return journey, he rescued Andromeda and brought her back to the island.

Because Serifos has been mined for iron and copper since antiquity, Petrides chose to combine these two metals in a monumental head, installed on a concrete column outside the museum.

ReferencePPS-29

CollectionArchaeological Museum of Serifos

SectorMuseum

Year2026

StatusInstalled

Height75 cm

MaterialOxidized copper finish on the face and wings; iron on the hair; aluminium on the snakes. Metal coatings over 3D-printed recycled PETG.

Max. width80 cm

Additional specifications

The studio is confirming the following unrecorded specifications: Depth.

The studio’s revised installation instructions of 25 May 2026 record the 80 cm diameter. The column height and final anchoring schedule are available through the studio.

Published dimensions describe the sculpture unless a base or overall height is expressly included. Ask the studio for the work-specific dimensions, weight, materials, anchoring and care schedule before procurement or installation.

Ask about this work

Project in context

Purpose and setting

Large Head of Medusa, installed outside the Archaeological Museum of Serifos — Serifos · 2026

Medusa, surface detail — Material and installation

The monumental head stands on a concrete column outside the Archaeological Museum of Serifos. Iron and copper connect its finish to the island’s mining history; the Medusa subject connects it to the story of Perseus.

Technical planning pack →

Institution and brief: Created for the Archaeological Collection of Serifos at the invitation of curator Dr. Georgios Gavalas. The artist’s family connection to Serifos and the island’s association with Perseus and Medusa give the work its setting.
Artistic response: The face and wings are finished in copper, the hair in iron and the snakes in aluminium. Oxidized surfaces evoke an object weathered by sea air. The artist’s account identifies Canova’s treatment of Medusa among his sculptural references. The underlying form is 3D-printed in recycled PETG.
Studio and installation: The studio developed and finished the head in New York and supplied installation instructions for its concrete column on Serifos. The instructions describe a separate rear hair section and a fixing arrangement coordinated with the site; final engineering remains specific to the installation.
Scale and documentation: Sculpture height: 75 cm; diameter including hair: 80 cm. The studio archive contains revised installation instructions dated 25 May 2026 and the artist’s project narrative. The column height is not included in these sculpture dimensions.

Viewing this work

Access is determined by the host institution. Contact the institution or studio to confirm current display and visiting arrangements.

Find the institution on a map