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About

Kiriakos Tompolidis (B. Essen, Germany, 1997) is an artist of Greek descent who resides in Germany. His paintings typically portray domestic scenes and solitary figures in a two-dimensional style reminiscent of Greek vase paintings. They often incorporate objects such as classical Greek statues, vases, and architectural elements. Tompolidis’s work is profoundly influenced by his Greek heritage and his personal experiences as a Greek immigrant in Germany. By referencing his grandparents daily environment, and including objects or patterns associated with ancient Greek culture, he weaves a narrative through his paintings that explores the connection between his own identity and his cultural heritage.

In addition to exploring the aesthetics, subjects, and techniques of ancient and classical Greek art, Tompolidis’s paintings also serve as a means for him to process and depict the multi-dimensional complexities of the immigrant experience. They act as a means for expressing the psychological and emotional struggles faced by previous generations who arrived in a new country after the war and lived through the integration of the two Germanys.

Kiriakos Tompolidis’s work is deeply personal and rooted in his own family experiences as well as those of his ancestors: it explores the intricate relationship between his identity and his cultural and historical heritage. His paintings promote empathy and understanding for the immigrant experience, offering a reflection of the global migration crisis we are facing today.

Selected Works

This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Under the Bougainvillea." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures Overall: 82 ¹¹⁄₁₆" x 114 ³⁄₁₆" x 1 ⁵⁄₈" [HxWxD] (210 x 290.01 x 4.12 cm)82 ¹¹⁄₁₆" x 57 ³⁄₃₂" x 1 ⁵⁄₈" [HxWxD] (210 x 145 x 4.12 cm). Its medium is Oil, photo transfer and Bougainvillea leaves from greece on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Under the Bougainvillea,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Between chairs." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 140 x 100 x 1.625 cm [HxWxD] (55 ¹⁄₈" x 39 ³⁄₈" x ⁵⁄₈"). Its medium is Oil, acrylic and photo transfer on linen.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Between chairs,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Softly Gone." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 11 ⁷⁄₈" x 9 ⁷⁄₈" x 1 ¹⁹⁄₃₂" [HxWxD] (30.18 x 25.1 x 4.04 cm). Its medium is Oil and photo transfer on linen.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Softly Gone,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Self portrait with 28." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures Overall: 78 ³⁄₄" x 118 ¹⁄₈" x 1 ¹⁹⁄₃₂" [HxWxD] (200 x 300 x 4 cm)78 ³⁄₄" x 59 ¹⁄₁₆" x 1 ¹⁹⁄₃₂" [HxWxD] (200 x 150 x 4 cm) each. Its medium is Oil, acrylic and photo transfer on linen.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Self portrait with 28,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Conversations without words." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 66 ¹⁵⁄₁₆" x 45 ⁹⁄₃₂" x 1 ⁵⁄₈" [HxWxD] (170 x 115.01 x 4.12 cm). Its medium is Oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Conversations without words,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Echoes of Spring." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 31 ²⁹⁄₃₂" x 21 ¹¹⁄₁₆" x 1 ¹⁹⁄₃₂" [HxWxD] (81 x 55 x 4 cm). Its medium is Oil and photo transfer on linen.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Echoes of Spring,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Silent Sadness." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 63" x 47 ¹⁄₄" x 1 ¹⁹⁄₃₂" [HxWxD] (160 x 120 x 4 cm). Its medium is Oil and photo transfer on linen.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Silent Sadness,” 2025
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Self Portrait in Bathroom Mirror." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 55 ¹⁄₈" x 43 ⁵⁄₁₆" x 1" [HxWxD] (140.01 x 110.01 x 2.54 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Self Portrait in Bathroom Mirror,” 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Let Them." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 66 ³⁄₄" x 55 ¹⁄₈" x 1" [HxWxD] (169.55 x 140.03 x 2.54 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Let Them,” 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Identity About Identity." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures Overall size: 55 ¹⁄₈" x 88" x 2 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (140 x 223.52 x 6.35 cm)55 ¹⁄₈" x 43 ⁵⁄₁₆" x 2 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (140 x 109.98 x 6.35 cm) each panel. Its medium is Diptych, Acrylic, oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Identity About Identity,” 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Night out in Greece." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 66 ²⁹⁄₃₂" x 43 ⁵⁄₁₆" x 2 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (169.93 x 109.98 x 6.35 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Night out in Greece,” 2023
This image depicts an artwork by Kiriakos Tompolidis titled "Maria." This artwork was created in 2023 and measures 51 ³⁄₁₆" x 39 ³⁄₈" x 2 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (130.05 x 100 x 6.35 cm). Its medium is Acrylic, oil and photo transfer on canvas.
Kiriakos Tompolidis
“Maria,” 2023

Exhibitions

1997
Born in Essen, Germany
Currently lives and works in Berlin, Germany
2024
Diploma in Fine Arts at the University of Arts, Berlin, Germany
2018
Freie Universität Berlin and University of Arts, Berlin, Germany
2016
University Duisburg-Essen Germany, Essen Folkwang, Germany

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2026
Solo, Folkwang Museum, Essen, Germany (forthcoming)
2025
"Your Tears Will Dry," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2024
"Kiriakos Tompolidis: The More It Hurts, the Less It Shows," Galerie Judin, Berlin, Germany
2023
"Kiriakos Tompolidis: God Loves You (But Not as Much to Save You)," Labor, Mexico City, Mexico
"Kiriakos Tompolidis: Don’t Forget to Live," Miettinen Collection, Berlin, Germany
"Kiriakos Tompolidis: I know that I know Nothing," The Cabin, Los Angeles, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2025
"Icons, Archetypes, and Portraits," North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND
"14th Taipei Biennial: Whispers on the Horizon," Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan
2024
"GEGEN DEN STRICH," Schloss Sacrow, Potsdam, Germany
"New Works by Lavaughan Jenkins, Mario Joyce, Raffi Kalenderian, Kiriakos Tompolidis," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2023
Group Show, Green Family Foundation, Dallas, TX
"We Are A Way For The Cosmos To Know Itself," Bode Gallery, Berlin, Germany
"SIRANI," Gallery Judin, Berlin, Germany
2022
"Garten of Performance," Fünfter Löffel, Berlin, Germany
2021
"Ein Sommer in Neukladow," curated by Miriam-Esther Owesle, Ghotische Haus, Germany
2020
"Die letzte Blaue," benzinLAB, Germany
2019
"Kunstspur Essen," Open Studios, Essen, Germany
C.A.R. Contemporary Art Ruhr Innovative Art, Essen, Germany

Bibliography

2025
Rathe, Adam. "Is Wallpaper the Art World's Next Big Thing?," Town and Country Magazine, July 28 (Link)
Porterfield, Carlie. "Independent art fair adjusts as market slows," The Art Newspaper, May 9 (Link)
2023
Plotnikova, Valentina. "In Conversation With Kiriakos Tompolidis | Episode 24," Bode Gallery (Link)
Labor Staff. "KIRIAKOS TOMPOLIDIS: GOD LOVES YOU (BUT NOT AS MUCH TO SAVE YOU)," Onda MX, October
Mutual Art Staff. "Kiriakos Tompolidis: Don’t Forget to Live," MutualArt, September 02
Werther, Wilhelm. "Kiriakos Tompolidis," Woz Die Wochenzeitung, May
Sutton, Benjamin. "'Just relax. You don’t have to have everything': Danny First shares advice for new collectors and his fantasy of sitting for Lucian Freud," The Art Newspaper, February 16

Public Collections

North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND