BUILDING HISTORY

The Gallery building, a historic mansion built in 1890, was purchased by the Municipality of Nea Koutali in 2000 with the aim of housing the Collection. Closely connected to Kondias and reflecting its recent history, the building was constructed with local stone by local craftsmen. It was originally the residence of Nikolaos Glefaros and his wife Efrosyni. During the Occupation, it was requisitioned by the Germans and used as a command post. Upon their retreat, the occupiers caused damage to the building, which remained abandoned until 1979. That year, it was bought by Andreas Skordis, a native of Lemnos living in Malawi, Africa. In 2000, the Municipality of Nea Koutali acquired it from him to house the Gallery of Contemporary Balkan Art.

The Gallery’s position in public space and its significance for Lemnos, Greece, and the Balkans confirm the ongoing need for its support and promotion so that it remains a steadfast reference point in the country’s contemporary cultural life.

In a constantly changing landscape, the Kondias Gallery of Contemporary Balkan Art serves as a reminder that art can be a field of cultural ferment, a point of contact, and a bearer of shared cultural memory.