Stavros Mihalarias

Stavros Mihalarias was born in Athens in 1943. 

As early as his student years he studied the techniques of Byzantine Icon Painting. 

In 1960 he started his career as a restorer in the Athens Byzantine Museum. 

In 1965 with a UNESCO scholarship he continued his studies in Paris at the School of Louvre and at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes of which he became Directeur associe since 1986. 

In 1967 he perfected his knowledge in fine art restoration at the Institut du Partimoine Artistique in Belgium (Doctorate).
In 1970 he created his first private fine art restoration studio in London. Having highly specialized scientific equipment the studio offers specialized service to important private and national collections.
In 1966 he cooperated with the National Gallery in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery on the restoration of important works of art. 

In 1976 he was awarded with the title of "Fellow of the International Conservation" and in 1979 he was acclaimed Fellow Member of the Restorer's Association. 

In 1983 he established his first fine art restoration studio in Athens on 27 Panaitoliou street in the area of Acropolis.
During his stay abroad he worked in various fine art restoration studios of important museums like the Prado, the Rijks Museum, the Louvre and the Metropolitan. He has restored important paintings by masters such as van Gogh, Rembrant, el Greco , etc. as well as rare icons. One of the most important moments in his career was the discovery of the famous icon of St. Peter, an excellent example of icon painting of the first half of the 14th century. He has also restored important collections such as the Stavros Niarchos, the von Thyssen, and the Bradley Collections, the collections of Lord Lee and Lord Goodman, etc.
In 1985 he acquired the house of the Stathatos family on Herodotou street at Kolonaki. Renovated under his personal supervision this Neo-classical Building housed yet another fine art restoration studio as well as the new, important activities of Stavros Mihalarias, auctions and exhibitions of artists. In this house as well as in the building of the Goulandris family, which he acquired and renovated in 1990, Stavros Mihalarias organized auctions of important painting by Greek and foreign artists, thus contributing in establishing essentially the basis of the Greek art market. At the same time he organizes exhibitions of internationally known Greek artists like Takis, Chryssa, Pavlos, as well as from other field of art such as icons, rare textiles, objects d' art, etc.
In 1995 he acquires the famous "La Chrysotheque Zolotas" one of the most important, traditional Greek jewelry firms
In 2001 Stavros Mihalarias created a new modern gallery at Kolonaki, the "Stavros Mihalarias Art" on 24 Kanari street, an art store-gallery and an exhibition center for contemporary artists.
On the 15th of March, 2003 he officially opens the ART CITY MIHALARIAS at Malakasa. In this very special, multifaceted and unique space of art Stavros Mihalarias makes his vision come true, transfers all his important activities thus offering the wide public the opportunity to see, admire and acquire art.