Jannis Varelas

Jannis Varelas was born in 1977 in Athens, Greece, and lives between Athens, Vienna, and Los Angeles. Varelas received a BFA from the Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece, and an MFA from the Royal College of Art, London, UK.

His work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions internationally, including Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, AT (2022); The Breeder, Athens, GR (2022); Galerie Forsblom, Helsinki, FI (2020); Tennis Elbow, New York, US (2019); Anima I, The Benaki Museum, Athens, GR (2019); Galerie Forsblom, Stockholm, SE (2018); Monster, Onassis Stegi, Athens, GR (2017); James Fuentes Gallery, New York, US (2016); Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, AT (2016); New Flags for A New Country / Destroying Elvis, Onassis Stegi, Athens, GR (2016); Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati, US (2012).

Selected group shows include Albertina Modern Museum, Vienna, AT (2024); Albertina Klosterneuburg Museum, AT (2024); Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Querétaro, MX (2023); Benaki Museum, Athens, GR (2021); Space K Seoul, South Korea (2020); MAAT Museum, Lisbon, PT (2018); 21er Haus, Vienna, AT (2017); Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Athens, GR (2016); DESTE Foundation, Athens, GR (2015); Palais de Tokyo, Paris, FR (2013). In 2023, Jannis Varelas designed the costumes and lighting for Vergeigt, an opera by Herbert Fritsch, presented at the Grosse Bühne of the Basel Theatre.

Jannis Varelas’ works are part of numerous public collections worldwide, including Albertina Museum, Vienna, AT; Belvedere Museum, Vienna, AT; Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki, FI; AMMA Foundation Collection, MX; Benaki Museum, Athens, GR; Onassis Collection, Athens, GR; Dakis Joannou Collection, Athens, GR; Zabludowicz Collection, London, UK; Saatchi Collection, London, UK; Mathias Döpfner Collection, Berlin, DE; Space K Collection, Seoul, KR.