Moudros, Lemnos, 1927 – Myrina, 2014
He was born in Moudros to refugee parents originating from Madytos in Eastern Thrace. His family settled in Kastro (Myrina) in 1932, where he grew up. He worked as an itinerant merchant in the villages of Lemnos, and for a period also on the neighboring island of Lesvos. From 1965 onwards, he lived in Myrina, where he opened the f irst dry-cleaning business on Lemnos — an enterprise that still operates today. Kanellis was a self-taught painter. His work is characteristic of naïve or untrained artists: simple, clear, and narratively rich, marked by descriptive precision and attention to detail. His drawing is defined, and his colors are bright and luminous. He held solo exhibitions in Myrina and participated in two group shows. His works are found in private collections in Greece and abroad. In 2011, a major solo exhibition of his work was hosted at the Gallery of Balkan Art in Kontias, curated by Thomas Sfounis. He passed away in Myrina a few years later.