Gerasimos Steris

Gerasimos Steris (Stamatelatos)

1898

Born in Digaleio, Cephalonia

1987-1914

Lives with his family primarily in Egypt, as well as in Italy

1915-1917

Attends directly the third of the six grades of the Athens School of Fine Arts with professors, among others, Iakovidis and Geraniotis

1919-1920

Lives away from artistic circles. Travels around Greece, paints. Travels in Europe: Italy, Germany, Holland, Great Britain, France. In Paris he studies in private academies (Julian etc.), mingles with the city's artistic circles and befriends Picasso, Derrain, etc.

1920-1926

Lives almost permanently in Paris, where he probably exhibits.
Between August and October 1926 he comes to Greece, where, by presenting a single painting, be receives his diploma from the School of Fine Arts, as well as a three year University scholarship from the Voltos Fund, leaves, at the end of the year, for Paris, where he will study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts the art of murals and interior design.

1927-1930

Studies and works at his own studio. Collaborates with professor Beaudouin decorating public buildings

1931

Arrives in Athens, where his friends obtain a studio for him in Ayioi Anargyri, in Plaka - Athens. Paints fervently for an exhibition, organizationally undertaken by. among other friends, architect Dimitris Pikionis, which will lead. few months later, to the Papantoniou incident and the publishing of the “18 criticisms”, events which cut Steris off from having a career in his country. In April has an exhibition in the hotel Palais de Versailles, will a large attendance and publicity, but no commercial success

1932

Athens-Paris-Cairo, where he meets with his brother, Dionyssis. Collaborates with Pikionis in set-designing theater performances in Athens

1933-1934

Arrives in Paris in September 1933, after stopping by in Milan and Como. In Athens during October and November. Travels to Alexandria, where most likely he had an exhibition

1935

In Paris in the beginning of the year, in Mystras in May, in Thessaloniki in December, where he exhibits in the Mediterranean Hotel, an artistic and commercial repetition with that of 1931. He visits his other brother in Cephalonia

1936

Back and forth between Athens and Mystra. With postal seal 7.12, registered in New York, writes on board “The Normandie” on route to America.

1937-1939

Departs, while in New York, immediately for Hollywood. Travels, visits museums, works on movie posters and sets for 20th Century Fox, Desires to have an exhibition, in vain. Collaborating with two Greek architects, decorates the Greek Pavilion in the World Fair in New York

1939-1945

No clear information about his residence in the U.S.A.

1946

Set-designs the performance of Euripides' “Phoenisses”. Marries an American, or, according others, a British lady with whom has a child. His spouse deserts, taking their child along. The wound is detrimental. He continues working for Fox.

1948-1959

He scarcely writes to friends, while in New York. It is worth wondering what has happened to Steris' communication with Pikionis during this period: the man trusted and owed the most. In 1955, he marries Anna Vassalo Savvino

1960-1961

Sends a letter-signal to his other best friend, Costas Kefalas

1969

Exhibition of 50 of his works at the “Nees Mortes” gallery in Athens

1970

Exhibition of 41 of his works, along with many drawings at the “Aithousa Technis” gallery in Thessaloniki.

1978

Exhibition of 45 of his works at the “Trito Mati” gallery in Athens

1980

Exhibition of 88 his paintings and drawings with the title “Steris: Greek Landscapes and Figures in the 1930's” at the Munich Glyptotegue. Exhibition of his drawings at the “Trito Mati” gallery, in Athens, along with Zavitsianos' etchings.

1982

Exhibition of 125 of his paintings and 51 of his drawings at the National Gallery in Athens.

1987

He dies in America, at the age of 89 years old

1988

His wife arrives in Greece to spread half of his ashes in Digaleio, his birthplace, while the other half was spread in the Seine thus executing his last wish. Because of this, she finds outs about Streris' Greek origins

1990

Exhibition of his works at the loni gallery in Athens

1991

Exhibition of his works at the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki, within the framework of Demetria Festival

1992

Exhibition of his works at the Melas Mansion of the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece, in Athens

2000

“Drawings: 1920-1935”. Works from the collection of Alpha Bank. By the Rethymnon Centre for Contemporary Art at the Artillery Building-Venetian Castle, Rethymnon.
Works of the painter exist in the collections of the National Gallery, Athens Municipal Gallery, the Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki, the Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki, Alpha Bank, National Bank of Greece, as well as in many private collections.

The biographical notes are excerpted from the publication STERIS: the tragic fairy-tale of the life an work of a pioneer-18 criticisms on an exhibition, Athens, 1931, Panorama Publications, Athens, 1982.